gh a very equivocal one;
and I have forgotten THAT since I retired from the world."

"And was it from disgust, from poverty, or from some--some ebullition
of passion which entailed punishment, that you betook yourself to the
mountains?"

"Why, signor," said the bravo, with a gay laugh, "hermits of my class
seldom love the confessional. However, I have no secrets while my step
is in these defiles, my whistle in my pouch, and my carbine at my back."
With that the robber, as if he loved permission to talk at his
will, hemmed thrice, and began with much humour; though, as his tale
proceeded, the memories it roused seemed to carry him farther than he
at first intended, and reckless and light-hearted ease gave way to
that fierce and varied play of countenance and passion of gesture which
characterise the emotions of his countrymen.

"I was born at Terracina,--a fair spot, is it not? My father was a
learned monk of high birth; my mother--Heaven rest her!--an innkeeper's
pretty daughter. Of course there could be no marriage in the case;
and when I was born, the monk gravely declared my appearance to be
miraculous. I was dedicated from my cradle to the altar; and my head was
universally declared to be the orthodox shape for a cowl. As I grew up,
the monk took great pains with my education; and I learned Latin and
psalmody as soon as less miraculous infants learn crowing. Nor did the
holy man's care stint itself to my interior accomplishments. Although
vowed to poverty, he always contrived that my mother should have
her pockets full; and between her pockets and mine there was soon
established a clandestine communication; accordingly, at fourteen,
I wore my cap on one side, stuck pistols in my belt, and assumed the
swagger of a cavalier and a gallant. At that age my poor mother died;
and about the same period my father, having written a History of the
Pontifical Bulls, in forty volumes, and being, as I said, of high birth,
obtained a cardinal's hat. From that time he thought fit to disown your
humble servant. He bound me over to an honest notary at Naples, and gave
me two hundred crowns by way of provision. Well, signor, I saw enough of
the law to convince me that I should never be rogue enough to shine in
the profession. So, instead of spoiling parchment, I made love to the
notary's daughter. My master discovered our innocent amusement, and
turned me out of doors; that was disagreeable. But my Ninetta loved
me, and took care t