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〃Hush！ Yes。〃
〃Can't you get me out of this infernal den？〃
〃Perhaps； if they all three sleep in the kitchen； at present one is awake。
Watch for my signal； and if they all three sleep I will manage to slip the
bolt。 Then you must give me time to get back into bed； and when you hear
me snore you may make the attempt。 They are all three sleeping on the
floor； so be very careful where you tread； I will also leave the front door a
little open； so that you can slip through without noise。〃
〃Dearest Valeria！〃
〃Hush！ Yes。〃
〃Hand me that caneit is my fishing…rod； you knowthrough this hole；
you can leave the sketch…book and paint…box under the tree that the
donkey fell against； I will call for them some day soon。 And； Valeria； don't
you think we could make our lips meet through this beastly hole？〃
〃Impossible。 There's my hand； heavens！ Croppo would murder me if
he knew。 Now keep quiet till I give the signal。 Oh； do let go my hand！〃
〃Remember； Valeria； /bellissima； carissima/； whatever happens； that I
love you。〃
But I don't think she heard this； and I went and sat on the onions；
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because I could see the hole better and the smell of them kept me awake。
It was at least two hours after this that the faint light appeared at the
hole in the wall and a hand was pushed through。 I rushed at the finger…tips。
〃Here's your fishing…rod；〃 she said； when I had released them and she
had passed me my air…gun。 〃Now be very careful how you tread。 There is
one asleep across the door； but you can open it about two feet。 Then step
over him； then make for a gleam of moonlight that comes through the
crack of the front door； open it very gently； and slip out。 /Addio； caro
Inglese/； mind you wait till you hear me snoring。〃
Then she lingered； and I heard a sigh。
〃What is it； sweet Valeria？〃 and I covered her hand with kisses。
〃I wish Croppo had blue eyes like you。〃
This was murmured so softly that I may have been mistaken； but I'm
nearly sure that was what she said； then she drew softly away； and two
minutes afterward I heard her snoring。 As the first sound issued from her
lovely nostrils I stealthily approached the door； gently pushed it open；
stealthily stepped over a space which I trusted cleared the recumbent
figure that I could not see； cleared him； stole gently on for the streak of
moonlight； trod squarely on something that seemed like an outstretched
hand； for it gave under my pressure and produced a yell； felt that I must
now rush for my life； dashed the door open； and down the path with four
yelling ruffians at my heels。 I was a pretty good runner； but the moon was
behind a cloud and the way was rocky； moreover； there must have been a
short cut I did not know； for one of my pursuers gained upon me with
unaccountable rapidityhe appeared suddenly within ten yards of my
heels。 The others were at least a hundred yards behind。 I had nothing for it
but to turn round； let him almost run against the muzzle of my air…gun；
pull the trigger； and see him fall in his tracks。 It was the work of a second；
but it checked my pursuers。 They had heard no noise； but they found
something that they did not bargain for； and lingered a moment； then； they
took up the chase with redoubled fury。 But I had too good a start； and
where the path joined the main road； instead of turning down toward the
town as they expected I would； I dodged round in the opposite direction；
the uncertain light this time favouring me； and I heard their footsteps and
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their curses dying away on the wrong track。 Nevertheless I ran on at full
speed； and it was not till the day was dawning that I began to feel safe and
relax my efforts。 The sun had been up an hour when I reached a small
town； and the little /locanda/ was just opening for the day when I entered it；
thankful for a hot cup of coffee and a dirty little room； with a dirtier bed；
where I could sleep off the fatigue and excitement of the night。 I was
strolling down almost the only street in the afternoon when I met a couple
of carabineers riding into it； and shortly after encountered the whole troop；
to my great delight in command of an intimate friend whom I had left a
month before in Naples。
〃Ah； /caro mio/；〃 he exclaimed； when he saw me； 〃well met！ What on
earth are you doing here？ Looking for those brigands you were so anxious
to find when you left Naples？ Considering that you are in the heart of their
country； you should not have much difficulty in gratifying your curiosity。〃
〃I have had an adventure or two；〃 I replied； carelessly。 〃Indeed； that is
partly the reason you find me here。 I was just thinking how I could get
safely back to Ascoli； when your welcome escort appeared； for I suppose
you are going there and will let me take advantage of it。〃
〃Only too delighted； and you can tell me your adventures。 Let us dine
together to…night； and I will find you a horse to ride on with us in the
morning。〃
I am afraid my account of the episode with which I have acquainted
the reader was not strictly accurate in all its details； as I did not wish to
bring down my military friends on poor Valeria； so I skipped all allusion
to her and my detention in her home； merely saying that I had had a
scuffle with brigands and had been fortunate enough to escape under cover
of the night。 As we passed it next morning I recognised the path which led
up to Valeria's cottage； and shortly after observed that young woman
herself coming up the glen。
〃Holloa！〃 I said； with great presence of mind； as she drew near； 〃my
lovely model； I declare！ Just you ride on； old fellow； while I stop and ask
her when she can come and sit to me again。〃
〃You artists are sad rogues； what chances your profession must give
you！〃 remarked my companion； as he cast an admiring glance on Valeria
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and rode discreetly on。
〃There is nothing to be afraid of； lovely Valeria；〃 I said； in a low tone；
as I lingered behind； 〃be sure I will never betray either your or your
rascallyhem！ I mean your excellent Croppo。 By the by； was that man
much hurt that I was obliged to trip up？〃
〃Hurt！ Santa Maria！ he is dead； with a bullet through his heart。 Croppo
says it must have been magic； for he had searched you and he knew you
were not armed； and he was within a hundred yards of you when poor
Pippo fell； and he heard no sound。〃
〃Croppo is not far wrong；〃 I said； glad of the opportunity thus offered
of imposing on the ignorance and credulity of the natives。 〃He seemed
surprised that he could not frighten me the other night。 Tell him he was
much more in my power than I was in his； dear Valeria；〃 I added； looking
tenderly into his eyes。 〃I didn't want to alarm you； that was the reason I let
him off so easily； but I may not be so merciful next time。 Now； sweetest；
that kiss you owe me； and which the wall prevented your giving me the
other night。〃 She held up her face with the innocence of a child as I
stooped from my saddle。
〃I shall never see you again； Signor Inglese；〃 she said； with a sigh； 〃for
Croppo says it is not safe； after what happened the night before last； to
stay another hour。 Indeed； he went off yesterday； leaving me orders to
follow to…day； but I went first to put your sketch…book under the bush
where the donkey fell； and where you will find it。〃
It took us another minute or two to part after this； and when I had
ridden away I turned to look back； and there was Valeria gazing after me。
〃Positively；〃 I reflected； 〃I am over head and ears in love with the girl； and
I believe she is with me。 I ought to have nipped my feelings in the bud
when she told me she was his wife； but then he is a brigand；