yourselves
living in palaces."

The fog had lifted, and it was beginning to grow light. Asabri gathered
up the heavy bag of money and prepared to depart.

"How long," said the sullen brigand, "with all respect, before your own
fortunes will be mended, sir, and ours?"

"You are quite sure you know nothing of stocks?"

"Nothing, excellency."

"Then listen. They shall be mended to-day. To-morrow come to my
bank----"

"Oh, sir, we dare not show our faces in Rome."

"Very well, then; to-morrow at ten sharp I shall leave Rome in a
motor-car. Watch for me along the Appian Way."

He shook them by their brown, grimy hands, mounted the impatient Biddy,
and was gone--blissfully smiling.

Upon reaching Rome he rode to his palace and assured Luigi the valet
that all was well. Then he bathed, changed, breakfasted, napped, and
drove to the hospital of Our Lady in Emergencies. He saw the superior
and gave her the leather bag containing the brigands' savings.

"For my sins," he said. "I have told lies half the night."

Then he drove to his great banking house and sent for the cashier.

"Make me up," said he, "three portable parcels of fifty thousand lire
each."

The next day at ten he left Rome in a black and beauteous motor-car,
and drove slowly along the Appian Way. He had left his mechanic behind,
and was prepared to renew his tires and his youth. Packed away, he had
luncheon and champagne enough for four; and he had not forgotten to
bring along the three parcels of money.

The three brigands stepped into the Appian Way from behind a mass of
fallen masonry. They had found the means to shave cleanly, and perhaps
to wash. They were adorned with what were evidently their very best
clothes. The youngest, whose ambition was the girl he loved, even wore a
necktie.

Asabri brought the motor to a swift, oily, and polished halt.

"Well met," he said, "since all is well. If you," he smiled into the
face of the sullen brigand, "will be so good as to sit beside me!... The
others shall sit in behind.... We shall go first," he continued, when
all were comfortably seated, "to have a look at that little piece of
land on which grow figs, olives, and grapes. We shall buy it, and break
our fast in the shade of the oldest fig tree. It is going to be a hot
day."

"It is below Rome, and far," said the sullen brigand; "but since the
barge upon which my friend has set his heart belongs to a near neighbor,
we shall be killing two birds