che was an image of the Madonna, and before it
burnt a lamp night and day. To gain that spot it was necessary to pass
the buttress in whose shade the two banditti lay concealed.

Stephano trembled as he followed that lady whom he knew to be as
intrepid, bold, and desperate as she was beautiful:--he trembled,
perhaps for the first time in his life, because never until now had he
felt himself overawed by the majesty of loveliness and the resolute mind
of a woman. But he had gone too far to retreat--even if that temporary
and almost unaccountable timidity had prompted him to abandon his
present design;--yes, he had gone too far--for at that moment when
Nisida was passing the huge buttress, the two brigands sprung forth: and
though her hand instantly grasped her dagger, yet so suddenly and
effectually was she overpowered that she had not even time to draw it
from its sheath.

Fortunately for the scheme of Stephano, the great square in front of the
cathedral was at that moment completely deserted by the usual evening
loungers; and thus did he and his companions experience not the
slightest interruption as they bore Nisida firmly and rapidly along to
the corner of the street where the horses were in attendance.

The lady's hands were already bound, and her dagger had been taken from
her; and thus the resistance she was enabled to make was very slight,
when Stephano, having sprung upon one of the horses, received the
charming burden from the banditti, and embraced that fine voluptuous
form in his powerful arms.

The two men who had waited with Stephano's horse were already mounted on
their own, as before stated, and the little party was now in readiness
to start.

"No further commands, signor?" said one of the banditti who had first
seized upon Nisida.

"None, my brave fellow. Tell Lomellino that I sent him my best wishes
for his prosperity. And now for a rapid journey to Leghorn!"

"Good-night, signor."

"Good-night. Farewell--farewell, my friends!" cried Verrina; and
clapping spurs to his steed, he struck into a quick gallop, his two
mounted companions keeping pace with him, and riding one on either side,
so as to prevent any possibility of escape on the part of Donna Nisida
of Riverola.

In a few minutes the little party gained the bank of the Arno, along
which they pursued their rapid way, lighted by the lovely moon, which
now broke forth from the purple sky, and seemed, with its chaste beams
playing on the sur