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prate with you as long as you please。 At present I am starving。
Four…and…twenty hours have elapsed since I last tasted nourishment。〃
Cinthia now covered a small table with her best provisions； and
filled several silver goblets with delicious wine。
〃If one could but look at him without disgust；〃 murmured Cinthia；
〃if he had but the appearance of something human！ Satan must
certainly have appeared to his mother； and thence came her child
into the world with such a frightful countenance。 Ugh！ it's an
absolute mask； only that I never saw a mask so hideous。〃
Abellino heeded her not； he placed himself at the table； and ate and
drank as if he would have satisfied himself for the next six months。
The banditti eyed him with looks of satisfaction； and congratulated
each other on such a valuable acquisition。
If the reader is curious to know what this same Abellino was like；
he must picture to himself a young； stout fellow； whose limbs
perhaps might have been thought not ill…formed； had not the most
horrible countenance that ever was invented by a caricaturist； or
that Milton could have adapted to the ugliest of his fallen angels；
entirely marred the advantages of his person。 Black and shining；
but long and straight； his hair flew wildly about his brown neck and
yellow face。 His mouth so wide； that his gums and discoloured teeth
were visible； and a kind of convulsive twist； which scarcely ever
was at rest； had formed its expression into an internal grin。 His
eye； for he had but one； was sunk deep into his head； and little
more than the white of it was visible； and even that little was
overshadowed by the protrusion of his dark and bushy eyebrow。 In
the union of his features were found collected in one hideous
assemblage all the most coarse and uncouth traits which had ever
been exhibited singly in wooden cuts； and the observer was left in
doubt whether this repulsive physiognomy expressed stupidity of
intellect； or maliciousness of heart； or whether it implied them
both together。
〃Now； then； I am satisfied；〃 roared Abellino； and dashed the still
full goblet upon the ground。 〃Speak！ what would you know of me？ I
am ready to give you answers。〃
〃The first thing；〃 replied Matteo； 〃the first thing necessary is to
give us a proof of your strength； for this is of material importance
in our undertakings。 Are you good at wrestling？〃
〃I know not； try me。〃
Cinthia removed the table。
〃Now； then； Abellino； which of us will you undertake？ Whom among us
dost thou think that thou canst knock down as easily as yon poor
dabbler in the art； Pietrino？〃
The banditti burst into a loud fit of laughter。
〃Now； then；〃 cried Abellino； fiercely； 〃now； then； for the trial。
Why come you not on？〃
〃Fellow；〃 replied Matteo； 〃take my advice； try first what you can do
with me alone； and learn what sort of men you have to manage。 Think
you； we are marrowless boys； or delicate signors？〃
Abellino answered him by a scornful laugh。 Matteo became furious。
His companions shouted aloud； and clapped their hands。
〃To business！〃 said Abellino； 〃I'm now in a right humour for sport！
Look to yourselves； my lads。〃 And in the same instant he collected
his forces together； threw the gigantic Matteo over his head as had
he been an infant； knocked Struzza down on the right hand； and
Pietrino on the left； tumbled Thomaso to the end of the room head
over heels； and stretched Baluzzo without animation upon the
neighbouring benches。
Three minutes elapsed ere the subdued bravoes could recover
themselves。 Loudly shouted Abellino； while the astonished Cinthia
gazed and trembled at the terrible exhibition。
〃By the blood of St。 Januarius！〃 cried Matteo at length； rubbing his
battered joints； 〃the fellow is our master！ Cinthia； take care to
give him our best chamber。〃
〃He must have made a compact with the devil！〃 grumbled Thomaso； and
forced his dislocated wrist back into its socket。
No one seemed inclined to hazard a second trial of strength。 The
night was far advanced； or rather the grey morning already was
visible over the sea。 The banditti separated； and each retired to
his chamber。
CHAPTER IV： THE DAGGERS。
Abellino； this Italian Hercules； all terrible as he appeared to be；
was not long a member of this society before his companions felt
towards him sentiments of the most unbounded esteem。 All loved； all
valued him； for his extraordinary talents for a bravo's trade； to
which he seemed peculiarly adapted； not only by his wonderful
strength of body； but by the readiness of his wit； and his never…
failing presence of mind。 Even Cinthia was inclined to feel some
little affection for him； buthe really was too ugly。
Matteo； as Abellino was soon given to understand； was the captain of
this dangerous troop。 He was one who carried villainy to the
highest pitch of refinement； incapable of fear； quick and crafty；
and troubled with less conscience than a French financier。 The
booty and price of blood； which his associates brought in daily；
were always delivered up to him： he gave each man his share； and
retained no larger portion for himself than was allotted to the
others。 The catalogue of those whom he had despatched into the
other world was already too long for him to have repeated it： many
names had slipped his memory； but his greatest pleasure in his hour
of relaxation was to relate such of these murderous anecdotes as he
still remembered； in the benevolent intention of inspiring his
hearers with a desire to follow his example。 His weapons were kept
separate from the rest； and occupied a whole apartment。 Here were
to be found daggers of a thousand different fashions； WITH guards
and WITHOUT them； two； three； and four…edged。 Here were stored air…
guns； pistols； and blunderbusses； poisons of various kinds and
operating in various ways； garments fit for every possible disguise；
whether to personate the monk； the Jew； or the mendicant； the
soldier； the sailor； or the gondolier。
One day he summoned Abellino to attend him in his armoury。
〃Mark me；〃 said he； 〃thou wilt turn out a brave fellow； that I can
see already。 It is now time that you should earn that bread for
yourself which hitherto you have owed to our bounty。 Look！ Here
thou hast a dagger of the finest steel； you must charge for its use
by the inch。 If you plunge it only one inch deep into the bosom of
his foe； your employer must reward you with only one sequin： if two
inches； with ten sequins； if three； with twenty； if the whole
dagger； you may then name your own price。 Here is next a glass
poniard； whomsoever this pierces； that man's death is certain。 As
soon as the blow is given； you must break the dagger in the wound。
The flesh will close over the point which has been broken off； and
which will keep its quarters till the day of resurrection！ Lastly；
observe this metallic dagger；