"But hear me," he went on, remembering what the guide had told him about their ransoming their prisoners-" agree to spare this young lady and myself, never to separate us for a moment, and to leave me my arms, and I will give you an order on my banker at Bologna for a thousand sequins; if not, prepare to join the dead!"

The Italian looked at the Englishman, who whispered something in his ear; but all the ragged wretches who formed his band, lured by the sound of such a sum, immediately vociferated" The thousand sequins! the thousand sequins!" which turned the day in Charles's favour.

66

Well," cried the Italian, "I will take it," and was advancing.

66

Stop!" exclaimed Charles in a loud voice" first give me your honour, as Italians and soldiers, that you will keep the conditions I have named exactly; and I will moreover add five hundred sequins to what I have promised, if you will instantly

G 4

stantly send that man," pointing to the Englishman, "from among you; for he is a spy and a traitor, and the destruction of all who trust him."

Perhaps Charles was not fully justified in this accusation; but this man's former unaccountable endeavour to carry Mary away, and his present association with the robbers, made it evident that his conduct proceeded from some deep design, which induced Charles to take any measures to procure his absence, especially as the banditti by whom he was surrounded might easily be brought to break any conditions whatsoever. But gold with them seemed all-powerful: not five minutes before they had been going to murder him, and now, at his instigation, they turned towards their former companion with looks of such significance, that he was not long in comprehending their meaning, for, springing on a stout grey horse that stood near, he did not wait for warning to be gone, but first turning towards Charles

1

with a brow that told a tale of deep ferocious determination-" You have not escaped me yet!" he exclaimed, and striking his spurs deep into his horse's sides, he galloped off, while one of the banditti discharged his carbine after him, amidst shouts of laughter from the rest.

Charles instantly saw and adopted the plan he must pursue towards those in whose power he was.-" Now," exclaimed he, in a frank, cheerful voice, "I have confidence in you;" and placing the pistol in his bosom, he held out his hand to the chief of the robbers.

There seemed something in the straight forward, relying manner of the young Englishman that affected him, for he grasped his hand tight in his, and a glistening drop shone for a moment in his eye. A word, a gesture, will sometimes recall to the worst of us the days of early innocence, and turn his evil a moment from its course; but the robber was scarcely so far plunged into wrong; he had been

led, or driven, from the path of right, but his heart was still with it.

"For God's sake," said Charles, looking towards Mary, who still remained in a state of insensibility," while I draw the order on my banker, some one bring me a cup of water for this young lady!"

Two or three ran with alacrity to do it, and while they were gone, the others presented him with a little ink, and a pen, made out of a raw feather. No paper, however, was to be procured, till he tore a leaf out of his pocketbook, on which he wrote an order for the sum he had promised in Italian, and added a few words to Mr. Wilmot in the same language, desiring him to see it paid directly.

As soon as it was written, the paper was handed from one to another, and when they read the sum, and the name of the banker, and directions to Mr. Wilmot, the meagre wretches seemed as if they would have danced for joy, and they

all

all set to work to calculate how much it

was a man.

rence.

The chief, however, turned to Charles. "There is an old woman," said he, (lady Anne Milsome) " and some servants in the carriage; but as they are of no consequence, I will send them on to FloI would let you and the young lady go too," added he, with a look of regret," and would trust to your honour that the bill will be paid; but they would not allow it;" and he gave a glance towards his companions, plainly implying, that like many other generals, he too was obliged to pay respect to the opinion of his troops.

Charles asked if he might speak to the persons in the carriage, but this was decidedly refused; and cutting away the traces from the two dead leaders, they untied the servants, and sent them on towards Florence, leaving lady Anne, who was almost dead with terror, totally igno rant of the fate of her niece.