here for, you villain?"

"This is a trap!" cried the mayor, trying to get the door open. But, by
the bandits' orders, as was afterward discovered, Saveria had locked it
on the outside.

"Good people," said Brandolaccio, "don't be afraid of me. I'm not such a
devil as I look. We mean no harm at all. Signor Prefetto, I'm your very
humble servant. Gently, lieutenant! You're strangling me! We're here as
witnesses! Now then, Padre, speak up! Your tongue's glib enough!"

"Signor Prefetto," quoth the licentiate, "I have not the honour of being
known to you. My name is Giocanto Castriconi, better known as the Padre.
Aha, it's coming back to you! The signorina here, whom I have not
the pleasure of knowing either, has sent to ask me to supply some
information about a fellow of the name of Tomaso Bianchi, with whom I
chanced to be shut up, about three weeks ago, in the prison at Bastia.
This is what I have to tell you."

"Spare yourself the trouble," said the prefect. "I can not listen to
anything from such a man as you. Signor della Rebbia, I am willing to
believe you have had nothing to do with this detestable plot. But are
you master in your own house? Will you have the door opened? Your sister
may have to give an account of the strange relations in which she lives
with a set of bandits."

"Signor Prefetto!" cried Colomba, "I beseech you to listen to what this
man has to say! You are here to do justice to everybody, and it is your
duty to search out the truth. Speak, Giocanto Castriconi!"

"Don't listen to him," chorused the three Barricini.

"If everybody talks at once," remarked the bandit, with a smile, "nobody
can contrive to hear what anybody says. Well, in the prison at Bastia
I had as my companion--not as my friend--this very man, Tomaso. He
received frequent visits from Signor Orlanduccio."

"You lie!" shouted the two brothers together.

"Two negatives make an affirmative," pursued Castriconi coolly. "Tomaso
had money, he ate and drank of the best. I have always been fond of good
cheer (that's the least of my failings), and in spite of my repugnance
to rubbing shoulders with such a wretch, I let myself be tempted,
several times over, into dining with him. Out of gratitude, I proposed
he should escape with me. A young person--to whom I had shown some
kindness--had provided me with the necessary means. I don't intend to
compromise anybody. Tomaso refused my offer, telling me he was certain
to be all right, as l