按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of the brigand's cave； and turning over in my mind whether or not I should
propose to join the band。
We had walked an hour and it had become dark； when we turned off
the road； up a narrow path that led between rocky sides to a glade； at the
extremity of which； under an overhanging ledge； was a small cottage； with
what seemed to be a patch of garden in front。
〃Ho！ Anita！〃 called out the man who appeared to be the leader of the
band； 〃open！ We have brought a friend to supper； who will require a
night's lodgings。〃
An old woman with a light appeared； and over her shoulder； to my
delight； I saw the face I had asked to be allowed to paint so shortly before。
I was about to recognise her with an exclamation； when I saw a hurried
motion of her finger to her lip； which looked a natural gesture to the casual
observer； but which I construed into a sign of prudence。
〃Where did you pick him up； Croppo？〃 she asked； carelessly。 〃He
ought to be worth something。〃
〃Just twelve bajocchi；〃 he answered； with a sneering laugh。 〃Come；
/amico mio/； you will have to give us the names of some of your friends。〃
〃I am tolerably intimate with his Holiness the Pope； and I have a
bowing acquaintance with the King of Naples； whom may God speedily
restore to his own；〃 I replied； in a light and airy fashion； which seemed
exceedingly to exasperate the man called Croppo。
〃Oh； yes； we know all about that； we never catch a man who does not
profess to be a Nero of the deepest dye in order to conciliate our
63
… Page 64…
STORIES
sympathies。 It is just as well that you should understand； my friend； that all
are fish who come into our net。 The money of the pope's friends is quite as
good as the money of Garibaldi's。 You need not hope to put us off with
your Italian friends of any colour； what we want is English goldgood；
solid English gold； and plenty of it。〃
〃Ah；〃 said I； with a laugh； 〃if you did but know； my friend； how long I
have wanted it too！ If you could only suggest an Englishman who would
pay you for my life； I would write to him immediately； and we would go
halves in the ransom。 Hold！〃 I said； a bright idea suddenly striking me。
〃Suppose I were to write to my governmenthow would that do？〃
Croppo was evidently puzzled； my cheerful and unembarrassed
manner apparently perplexed him。 He had a suspicion that I was even
capable of the audacity of making a fool of him； and yet that proposition
about the government rather staggered him； there might be something in it。
〃Don't you think；〃 he remarked； grimly； 〃it would add to the effect of your
communication if you were to enclose your own ears in your letter？ I can
easily supply them； and if you are not a little more guarded in your speech
you may possibly have to add your tongue。〃
〃It would not have the slightest effect；〃 I replied； paying no heed to his
threat； 〃you don't know Palmerston as I do。 If you wish to get anything out
of him you must be excessively civil。 What does he care about my ears？〃
And I laughed with such scornful contempt that Croppo this time felt that
he had made a fool of himself； and I observed the lovely girl behind； while
the corners of her mouth twitched with suppressed laughter； make a sign
of caution。
〃/Per Dio！/〃 he exclaimed； jumping up with fury。 〃Understand； Signor
Inglese； that Croppo is not to be trifled with。 I have a summary way of
treating disrespect；〃 and he drew a long and exceedingly sharp… looking
two…edged knife。
〃So you would kill the goose〃 （〃and I certainly am a goose；〃 I
reflected） 〃that may lay a golden egg。〃 But my allusion was lost upon him；
and I saw my charmer touch her forehead significantly； as though to imply
to Croppo that I was weak in the upper story。
〃An imbecile without friends and twelve bajocchi in his pocket；〃 he
64
… Page 65…
STORIES
muttered； savagely。 〃Perhaps the night without food will restore his senses。
Come； fool！〃 and he roughly pushed me into a dark little chamber
adjoining。 〃Here； Valeria； hold the light。〃
So Valeria was the name of the heroine of the donkey episode。 As she
held a small oil…lamp aloft I perceived that the room in which I was to
spend the night had more the appearance of a cellar than a chamber； it had
been excavated on two sides from the bank； on the third there was a small
hole about six inches square； apparently communicating with another
room； and on the fourth was the door by which I had entered； and which
opened into the kitchen and general living…room of the inhabitants。 There
was a heap of onions running to seed； the fagots of fire…wood which
Valeria had brought that afternoon； and an old cask or two。
〃Won't you give him some kind of a bed？〃 she asked Croppo。
〃Bah！ he can sleep on the onions；〃 responded that worthy。 〃If he had
been more civil and intelligent he should have had something to eat。 You
three；〃 he went on； turning to the other men； 〃sleep in the kitchen； and
watch that the prisoner does not escape。 The door has a strong bolt besides。
Come； Valeria。〃
And the pair disappeared； leaving me in a dense gloom； strongly
pervaded by an ordour of fungus and decaying onions。 Groping into one of
the casks； I found some straw； and spreading it on a piece of plank； I
prepared to pass the night sitting with my back to the driest piece of wall I
could find； which happened to be immediately under the air…holea
fortunate circumstance； as the closeness was often stifling。 I had probably
been dozing for some time in a sitting position； when I felt something
tickle the top of my head。 The idea that it might be a large spider caused
me to start； when； stretching up my hand； it came in contact with what
seemed to be a rag； which I had not observed。 Getting carefully up； I
perceived a faint light gleaming through the aperture； and then saw that a
hand was protruded through it； apparently waving the rag。 As I felt
instinctively that the hand was Valeria's； I seized the finger…tips； which was
all I could get hold of； and pressed them to my lips。 They were quickly