The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-11-30
arrived, and the hungry band fell upon

!" IKE so many wild beasts.
As soon as Corcel.i had supped he beckoned
tn his two lieutenants and led them into the
ADJ ing room.
"I'e have. ~ you know" said he. sheen
balked of the piliage we expected"
Yes, duped!" interrupted little old man
naterrsl app'ai1nce, and whose angular
zee was worn and hn;gard
rhis personasc had been nicknamed l.
,lon Padre, Oh account OF the simplicity Of
uis gestures and his unctuous way Of speak
ing We need not add that II Buon Padre
7as one ~ the most determined. avariciols
ulni nexorable rascals Of Corcell's hand,
The Duke vi ARGOS" continued orcelli
thmgh H. had certain love for hanging
,is. which. | believe. is traditional in hi,
.amily, was Yet very generous viceroy,
who intrusted us, from time to time, " IN n
lucrative expedition Then the lords aud
LADIES of the court sometimes honored us
with their confidence Ii they wanted to
calm jealous husband or to correct faith.
less lover, it was our poniards nY employed
in both cases But TINS cursed revoiu;lon,
which we, like fools, helped to hriaS about,
has deprived lis of the best part of our reve-
nue."
"Then why did you lead us against the
Spaniardsg' replied II Buon Padre 'Did
you not know that every kind of industry
suffers in time Of riots All confidence is de-
stfoyed, money disappears, there is nothing
to be done on the road, and, per Bacco, We
condottieri die OF hunger"
al Buon Padre is right" added Marsupio,
tho second lieutenant "A nobleman like the
Duke OF ARGOS. whose ancestors have inhab-
tied a castle on the top of mountain for the
last five centuries, and who have never had
any occupation but that of slaughtering the
monks and plundering all travellers, can I'M
derstand u Business like ours. He has some
respect for us gentlemen of the mountains,
and makes sbirri of us when we grow old
and when the sharp air of the Apennines no
longer suits our health But these fishermen
and peasants have neither pity nor consider
alton for u.s."
After having allowed his lieutenants to give
free course to their bad humor, Corcelli
said:
"Masanielo has promised to pay ME twenty
thousa d ducats; but the humbug will DO
like enough to send down here five or six
hundred fishermen armed with boat hooks,
and to have us harpooned like congers What
do you think, MarsupioF
IL think that viceroys in hobnails are
more dangerous than those in velvet doub-
let's" replied the Lieutenant, pouring himself
out glass Of wine, which no swallowed at
one draught.
81 have, therefore, determined" continued
Corcelli, ITO leave this very night, but before
doing so"-
Here his voice became nearly inaudible
"In a word. know where to find treas
ure-two treasures-which will carry Off at
any time"
I.
drew nearer to Corcelli, and looked him anx-
iously in the face.
But these treasures are locked up in an
impenetrable house and protected by strong
guard"
"Corpo Santoi" cried II Buon Padre and
Marsupio together.
''In what houses" asked the latter.
"In a convent"
"And of how many soldiers does the guard
consistg
"Of three hundred-nuns"
The captain and his two lieutenants burst
into a loud laugh.
"Ah, Corcellil" said they, rubbing their
hands, 'what n jolly fellow you arel A
to be stormed and three hundred
nuns to be reduced to slaveryi We shall
keep the recollection Of this night for long
time"
as the treasure heavy?" asked II Buon
Padre.
'Why, it is, aud it isn't; but let us get hold
Of it first, and we will count the ducats after
ward"
you're right"
'But 1 may as well tell you all,n added Cor
celli. "You recollect that we took the
daughter of the Duke of ARGOS to tho Abbey
Of Santa Chiara this morning.
eyes,
~ know that Jeanne, the sister OF Masa-
niello, Is also staying in the same retreat; I
will carry off these women, and, whichever
may BIO the party that triumphs, shall be
sure to receive a good ransom"
"What is the hour you have fixed on!'
Midnight"
"Good," replied II Buon Padre. "We will
go and direct our men to rub their arms up q
little. For, suppose the nuns should resist
Hang it! VIC must be prepared for every
thing"
Corcelli and his two lieutenants remained |
some time longer in conversation, and then |
returned to tho room in which their men |
were drinking, to give the signal to leave.
The greatest confusion now prevailed |
among tho banditti. The most intoxicated |
Of them got up, uttering frightful oaths, as |
they tried to keep their equilibrium. Others |
sought after their arms, and when the ranks |
were at last formed it was discovered that |
Conrad. Salvatore Rosa's model, was still ly- |
Ing on the floor, completely overcome with |
liquor,
Get up, You rascal said Corcelli, strik- |
ing the ground with his foot.
II wand do ged indo dc baggage wagons" |
yrowled tho druniard.
"Good night, and good luck to you to-mor- |
row morningi' said the captain.
He placed himself at the head Of his men,
md soon arrived in the neighborhood Of the |
Abbey of Santa Chiara.
The banditti hid themselves in tho masses
lf the surrounding houses xhila THAR mn