the outskirts of the town. I had no fear of detection, for my
beard and hair were as good as a mask. Oh, Mother of Mercy! there came
across my way a funeral procession! There, now you know it; I can tell
you no more. She had died, perhaps of love, more likely of shame. Can
you guess how I spent that night?--I stole a pickaxe from a mason's
shed, and all alone and unseen, under the frosty heavens, I dug the
fresh mould from the grave; I lifted the coffin, I wrenched the lid, I
saw her again--again! Decay had not touched her. She was always pale in
life! I could have sworn she lived! It was a blessed thing to see her
once more, and all alone too! But then, at dawn, to give her back to the
earth,--to close the lid, to throw down the mould, to hear the pebbles
rattle on the coffin: that was dreadful! Signor, I never knew before,
and I don't wish to think now, how valuable a thing human life is. At
sunrise I was again a wanderer; but now that Clara was gone, my scruples
vanished, and again I was at war with my betters. I contrived at last,
at O--, to get taken on board a vessel bound to Leghorn, working out my
passage. From Leghorn I went to Rome, and stationed myself at the door
of the cardinal's palace. Out he came, his gilded coach at the gate.

"'Ho, father!' said I; 'don't you know me?'

"'Who are you?'

"'Your son,' said I, in a whisper.

"The cardinal drew back, looked at me earnestly, and mused a moment.
'All men are my sons,' quoth he then, very mildly; 'there is gold for
thee! To him who begs once, alms are due; to him who begs twice, jails
are open. Take the hint and molest me no more. Heaven bless thee!' With
that he got into his coach, and drove off to the Vatican. His purse
which he had left behind was well supplied. I was grateful and
contented, and took my way to Terracina. I had not long passed the
marshes when I saw two horsemen approach at a canter.

"'You look poor, friend,' said one of them, halting; 'yet you are
strong.'

"'Poor men and strong are both serviceable and dangerous, Signor
Cavalier.'

"'Well said; follow us.'

"I obeyed, and became a bandit. I rose by degrees; and as I have always
been mild in my calling, and have taken purses without cutting throats,
I bear an excellent character, and can eat my macaroni at Naples without
any danger to life and limb. For the last two years I have settled in
these parts, where I hold sway, and where I have purchased land. I am
called a farmer, sig