s the wrong
place to laugh in. But I am nearly sure he would come back if we asked
him, now that there is a chance of doing something in Italy."

"What name did you say?"

"Rivarez. He's a Brazilian, I think. At any rate, I know he has lived
out there. He is one of the wittiest men I ever came across. Heaven
knows we had nothing to be merry over, that week in Leghorn; it was
enough to break one's heart to look at poor Lambertini; but there was
no keeping one's countenance when Rivarez was in the room; it was one
perpetual fire of absurdities. He had a nasty sabre-cut across the face,
too; I remember sewing it up. He's an odd creature; but I believe he
and his nonsense kept some of those poor lads from breaking down
altogether."

"Is that the man who writes political skits in the French papers under
the name of 'Le Taon'?"

"Yes; short paragraphs mostly, and comic feuilletons. The smugglers up
in the Apennines called him 'the Gadfly' because of his tongue; and he
took the nickname to sign his work with."

"I know something about this gentleman," said Grassini, breaking in upon
the conversation in his slow and stately manner; "and I cannot say that
what I have heard is much to his credit. He undoubtedly possesses a
certain showy, superficial cleverness, though I think his abilities have
been exaggerated; and possibly he is not lacking in physical courage;
but his reputation in Paris and Vienna is, I believe, very far from
spotless. He appears to be a gentleman of--a--a--many adventures and
unknown antecedents. It is said that he was picked up out of charity by
Duprez's expedition somewhere in the wilds of tropical South America,
in a state of inconceivable savagery and degradation. I believe he has
never satisfactorily explained how he came to be in such a condition. As
for the rising in the Apennines, I fear it is no secret that persons of
all characters took part in that unfortunate affair. The men who were
executed in Bologna are known to have been nothing but common
malefactors; and the character of many who escaped will hardly bear
description. Without doubt, SOME of the participators were men of high
character----"

"Some of them were the intimate friends of several persons in this
room!" Riccardo interrupted, with an angry ring in his voice. "It's all
very well to be particular and exclusive, Grassini; but these 'common
malefactors' died for their belief, which is more than you or I have
done as yet."

"A