the letter was written, Carlini seized it, and hastened to the plain to find
a messenger. He found a young shepherd watching his flock. The
natural messengers of the bandits are the shepherds who live between
the city and the mountains, between civilized and savage life. The
boy undertook the commission, promising to be in Frosinone in less
than an hour. Carlini returned, anxious to see his mistress, and
announce the joyful intelligence. He found the troop in the glade,
supping off the provisions exacted as contributions from the peasants; but his eye vainly sought Eita and Cucumetto amongst them.
"He inquired where they were, and was answered by a burst of laughter. A cold perspiration burst from every pore, and his hair stood on end. He repeated his question. One of the bandits rose, and offered him a glass filled with wine of Orvietto, saying,—'To the health of the brave Cucumetto and the fair Rita.' At this moment Carlini heard the cry of a woman; he divined the truth, seized the glass, broke it across the face of him who presented it, and rushed toward the spot whence the cry came. After a hundred yards he turned the corner of the thicket; he found Rita senseless in the arms of Cucumetto. At the sight of Carlini, Cucumetto rose, a pistol in each hand. The two brigands looked at each other for a moment—the one with a smile of lasciviousness on his lips, the other with the pallor of death on his brow. It seemed that something terrible was about to pass between these two men; but by degrees Carlini's features relaxed; his hand, which had grasped one of the pistols in his belt, fell to his side. Rita lay between them. The moon lighted the group.
"'Well,' said Cucumetto, 'have you executed your commission?'
"'Yes, captain,' returned Carlini. 'At nine o'clock to-morrow Rita's father will be here with the money.'
"'It is well; in the mean time, we will have a merry night. This young girl is charming, and does credit to your taste. Now, as I am not ego tistical, we will return to our comrades and draw lots for her.'
"'You have determined, then, to abandon her to the common law?' said Carlini.
"'Why should an exception be made in her favor?'
"'I thought that my entreaties'
"'What right have you, any more than the rest, to ask for an exception?'
"'It is true.'
"'But never mind,' continued Cucumetto, laughing, 'sooner or later your turn will come.' Carlini's teeth clenched convulsively.
"'Now, then,' said Cucumetto, advancing toward the other bandits, 'are you coming?'
