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(lain.
nh the .lnnHntt leaver are merry,
° Vn,l the blow nalnfc bthks 1m kl<l,
'..tyor ’s too roujth for the ferry,
P, \n!l the sky i* low and sad,
, the dairies elirtke with laughter
V J he surly wind oe by,
, ' know wltftt is hurrying after,
% they wateU the ditn, gray k,y,
r . loverrt am roSt.v with saying—
T ,• liutterenps bend to hear)
At 'be patient, it's oalv delaying—
‘ * Jl( i, for it* very near!”
TheMnshintr pimpernel closes,
it isn't becasseil gtleves—
, (I( , u -ti in the garden the roses
s'niil® oUt froni of leaves!
„! cla<lwess has stirred the flowers!’
hO yA rhibir<*i only coniplsin:
, it, t hat fs the tise of showers?”
‘ why does it ever t/h in?”
Margaret, D-.lwiul in St. Nicholas.
lit Fiskrm of Ijli.
by ALEXANDRE DUMAS
“SeT”
“2*o! no I” repotted all the others, “not
vou hate -nlready lied to an entire
people”
The fire of h<Cf red showed i® ithe viceroy’s
■eve.
' He contained himself,however,tremblingly
y t/cd the paper, and leaned back against the
wall, in ord#s.\ apparently, the better to
-peruse it.
A momentr of solemn fsdknro followed.
All that was heard was the confused mur
mur of the crowd, and tin noise made by the
muskets and partisans ok the stone flooring
of the palace.
Suddenly a panel of tthe wall yielded be
hind the-Duhe of Ancoe.
Ho glanced at the crowd of men before
him, gave a loud, sawlonic yell, and disap-
peared.
Masaniello tried in vain to follow. A bnui
jrtred arms struck, in Turn, at the secret door
Ithrough which tike viceroy passed. But .the
panel yielded not. The insurgents could -but
just perceive the .joint, after they had torn
down the Astrakhan leather with whiofe the
wall was covered.
Cries of “Treachery! To armsl” now re
sponded on all sidiK-.
Masaniello leaped*on the carved-oak stable
which stood in the middle of the roam. In
one hand ho hethi his poniard, and in 1 tha
other the paper containing his decrees.
“The Dukj vtf Arcos has fledf’ said he.
“So much tha bettor, for he only knew how
to pillage, assassinate and betray. The peo
ple are intelligent enough to govern for
thorn selves, and ■strong enough to defend the
independence they have conquered. I de
clare that Philip: the Fourth, king orf -Spain,
has forfeited the throne of Naples, both he
and his descendants! Long live our Lady
and our liberty!”
“Long live our leader! long live Masani
ello I” added the insurgents.
Masaniello *ms carried in triumph-to the
terrace in front of the chamber in which the
scene we have, just related took place.
The streets were filled with noisyand mot
ley crowds ct: women, peasants, fishermen
and lazaroni, who were rejoicing over their
victory, and •singing their national songs.
The combat, had ceased, a aid not aa soldier
was to t>e seen anywhere. They hud all
taken refuge ..in the CasteS-Nuovo, on the
towers of which they were already .pointing
their cannon*, against a people intoxicated
with joy.
An immean shout ran throughout;the city
when the Neapolitan flag was seen float, ing on
the terrace f the Vienna.
But a greater one still was raised he
who had planted it there was recognized.
It was Masaniello.
He motioned the people to be silent.
“No more Spaniards!” cried he.
“Long liw Masaniello, the head of the
people 1” replied the multitude.
“No more taxes!”
“Long live Masaniello!”
“No more tin rants! Hertneftsrtfc the (motto
of Naples shall bo ‘Christ and Liberty:” ”
“Christ iuidi Liberty I” repeated the ienthu
siastic peopkg in voices of thunder.
The fisherman returned to the .oc-uncil
chamber, called around hina the leaders ol
the revolt, ordered them to keep thejpeople
under arms, fct place sentinels at the cornora
■of the streets, and to cut off the aqueducts
leading to tho.Oastel-Nuovo.
Then he drew up a proclamation, in which
the lifo and property of every -one was pro
claimed sacred , and in which those who*com
mitted tho slightest act of pillage oare
threatened with instant death.
At this moment Dorn Francesco <enterejd.
“We are victorious, father,” said Masa
niello. “The treacherous Duke -of Areos.has
fled.”
“Let him goJVreplied the monk, "and .tell
his master that.the people of Naples will .ac
longer bear a foreign yoke, and that they
have .regr.i ned uU .their rights and liberty.*
“Yw," added Masaniello; “lot him gQ,
though he takes.with him my last hope—my
only Jove!”
“You weep, my son!” exclaimed thecnonk,
who was still ignorant of the dreadful secret
which ("iaivator Rosa had divulged.
“Francesco,” said Masaniello, “one .day
has sufficed to destroy .all my happiness.*
“What.do you mean:?”
“This voting girl I.loved”
| “Weill”
“For whom I would .sacrifice all* my Ufa,
my liberty—is Isabella, the daughter of the
Duke of Arcoss”
“Unfortunate man!”.exclaimed the monk.
Abundant tears ran doom the fisherman's
sunburned cheeks.
“All is lost!” murmured the monk.
“No! no!” exclaimed Masaniello. “Liberty
is too precious a thing to be thus abandoned;
it must be conquered by tears and suffering.
Were it even to kill rue, I .would tear from
ray heart the love I have .conceived —that
monstrous passion which was to unite the
man of the people .and the daughter of the
tyrant.”
“Will you have the strength to do this,
ray son?”
“Yes, father; the field of liberty must
often bo watered with our tears as well as
with our blood.”
“May heaven bless your efforts, Masa
niello 1 Man is weak. Remember that the
look of a woman may break the sword
grasped by the firmest hand. Isabella must
leave without your seeing her again.”
“Oh! there is nothing more in common
with me and the despot's daughter,” replied
the fisherman.
Thtfn he added, in a voice choked w'itb
emotion:
“But where could I see her? Who knows
what has become of her? Perhaps ■ But
no! I must have but one thought now, since
*uch is the will of heaven. The enemy of tb
Duke of Arcos must bo the enemy of hia
daughter. Adieu I father, adieu!”
CHAPTER XIII.
THE ABBET OF SANTA CHIARA.
Bom Francesco had scarcely quitted the
palace when Pietro appeared.
“What news of the Duke of Arcos?” asked
Masaniello. • ' .
“His standard is floating on the donjon of
the Castel-NuovQ. But it & ot tbere ttiat
"" ' ..... - %—*•**• *•
onr most formidable ene*ny is to be found
Corcelli has assembled his men at the gate
of the Marina, ami demands an hour’s pil
lage. " •
“A!i II Signore Corcelli wants to pillage
Naples,” murmured Masaniello. “He wants
to recover on terra firma the ducats swal
lowed up by the ocean; but he has n<> longer
to do with his old acqualntaiivvh the sbirri
of the viceroy, rascals who well- ever ready
to effect a compromise. lie shall leave
Naples and her territory to-morrow or 1
will have him tracked like a wild beast. But
aro our comrades sUll ta the palace, Pietrof ’
“Yes.”
“Armed?”
“To the teeth."
“Good. I will -s*e CorcellL As for you,
return to the abbey of Santa Chiara, and
toll my sister danne that I am in perfect
safety. You must not be seen with me, for
1 want you to keep a watch on these brigands
or.e night more, and they would mistrust
you, if they knew we had been together.”
“Is there no one else in Naples, Masaniello,
who is deafl* to you?” asked Pietro.
“Of whom would you speakf’
“Of the young girl who repaired the harm
done us by the Duke of Arcos? ’
Masaniello turned pale, uad said in a trem
bling voice:
“Has anything happened to her?"
“The people surrounded her carriage and
dispersed her escort,” replied Pietro, “at the
moment she was leaving the palace. Cor
celli and 1 saved her, and, the Madonna I*©
praised, Isabella is now out of danger, for -1
fcave taken her to"
“Enough 1 enough I Pietro!” interrupted
’the fisherman; “I neither wish to sae this
woman again nor to know the place of her
retreat; return, therefore, to the abbey and
let Isabella be restored to her family; l will
join you an hour hence.”
Masaniello took up his musket, assermbled
his men, placed himself at their head and
left tho Vicaria. He was triumphantly re
ceived by the crowd assembled without;
every voice blessed him and every hand
sought his. He passed slowly through the
enthusiastic (multitude, repeating ,t every
step:
“Brothers! let us becalm and moderate in
our victory, and show ourselves worthy of
the liberty we have just guine-d. Let ns
even respect the property and persons of
those who (have so long devoured the fruits
of our lafaoh Do not let us give-our enemies
the right to accuse us. Let ail,pillagers be
seized and executed instantly. The
which the people have founded must be re
spected.”
“Death to all pillagers!” immediately re
sounded on all sides.
“Paolo,” continued Masaniello, turning to a
lazaroni, “take five hundred of your most de
termined comrades, and go and occupy tlie
sea shone between the horboraMid the Marina;
do not -let a single one of Cornelli’s brigands
pass. I* will march on them from the oppo
site side. These men have some sinister pro
ject in view.”
While Paolo was executing these orders,
Masaniello led an army of -fishermen across
the market place, passed with them through
the gate of tho Marina, and advanced toward
CorceUi’s undisciplined horde of banditti.
“Follow me,” said he to the captain, and he
led him. into a neighboring.tavern.
“Corcelli,” added he to the condottiene,
“you nerved us usefully -this morning.”
“Yae,” replied Corcelli, “I do not thinJc
that, without me, you would have put the
Spaniards to flight with your oranges, pome
granates and watermelons.”
“We must now think -of restoring order
among? the people, whoa© worst passions are
let loose.”
“Halloo! why you’ve soon learned the lan
guage of his excellency, Monsignore the Duka
of Arnos. Per Baccol With your torn hose,
red sash and dirty jacket, you-make a charm
ing little viceroy!”
“T-.fl.iigh as much as you . like, Corcelli, but
rest assured that you will -not leave Naples
alive, .unless you obey the orders of the little
viceroy who so much delights you.”
“Diavolo! if you want-to be obeyed, you
ought ...at least to |wiy. my. fine fellow ; but
now that the galleon of Fernandez has blown
up, where are all the ducateyou promised us?
To what blockhead did you intrust this ex
pedition? Oh! if I hail beam there! But you
mistrusted me, Masaniello.” 5
“Your men will be paid.”’
“But Low, mio caro?”
“That, concerns me.”
“And what concerns me,- carissimo, is to
take caitr that the doublets of my men are
not riddled with bails, unless I see some
means of .being able to replace them.”
“What-do you propose doing, then?”
“You are ignorant of the laws of war, my
dear Masaniello, for you have never waged
it but against tho doradoes and turbots of
the bay. When a king, or a duke, or the
smallest baron possible, has .employed the
services ofn free company, and when he is
unable to j>ay their captain, do you know
what is the .means the latter has recourse to
in order to fill tho bellies of his.men?”
“No.”
“Well, them, he pillages the people of the
said king, duke or baron. And, by St. Jan
uarius, I will /treat you as a viceroy, Masa
niello.”
“And, by the holy Madonna, J will have
§ r ou hanged in the market place.”
Corcelli burst .into a loud laugh.
“Sangue di Cristo!” exclaimed he, “the
;.Neapolitans hare done a fine thing. They
.have now got a ragged fisherman for their
master, instead <*f a Spanish grandee in an
.embroidered doublet.”
“And the will of .the people shall dje more
respected than was that of the king in velvet
doublet, and whose yoke we have just shaken
.off,” said Masaniello.
He;here led tho brigand to the window of
.the tavern.
“Look.!” continued be; “the shore is.cov
ered with armed mem Your soldiers are
“ Look!'' l continued he; “the shore is cov
ered with armed men."
surrounded by a circle of iron. On a word
or a sign from me you would all be mas
sacred.”
“Sacramento! wo have been betrayed”
“Leave Naples instantly, and as soon as
order is re-established i will pay you 20,000
ducats on your quitting the Neapolitan ter
ritory.”
Corcelli seemed to understand the danger
which menaced him, for he immediately pro
pared to obey Maxaniello’s orders.
As soon as the bandits had disappeared
Masaniello set out for the abbey, wuer*
Pietro was waiting for him.
When he arrived he found the abbess ready
to receive him, and be was immediately con
ducted to his sister.
“Oh! welcome, welcome, my dear brother."
said Jeanne, “the I>>rd has chosen you to ac
complish great things, and 1 am proud to b
called your sister."
Masaniello smiled gently
“Yes, we have accomplished great things."
said Masaniello, “but 1 feel myself almost
unequal to the arduous duties 1 have to ful
fill."
“Courage, brother, courage! Providence
never abaudous those engaged in a good
cause, ” added Jeanne, “but the daughter of
the viceroy is here.”
“Isabella here!” exclaimed Masaniello.
“You must see and console her, for mis
fortune has fallen ofl'tier family and she is
In the greatest despair.”
“Scelier! Oh, no, ft is impossible f"
“Impossible! Oh! do you forget that it
was she who came to our assistance when we
wore weighed down by misfortune?”
“Oh! yes; 1 well remember her uoble con
duct.”
“And because her father is at present pro
scribed, because it is you who now rule at
the Vicaria, you refuse to hear her? Oh!
Masaniello, be not ungrateful.”
“Pity!” murmured the fisherman. “Well,
then, no!” added he, with an effort, “1 will
not see her; there is too wide a stream of
blood between us. Friendship ought not to
unite those Whom warfare has made ene
mies."
Jeanne listened no longer to her brother,
but raised a curtain, and Isabella appeared
before Masaniello.
“My father! my father!” exclaimed she,
“what have you done with my father?”
Masaniello drew back with affright, for
Isabella was no longer tho gay, smiling leing
he was wont to see, but her features wore
pale and haggard, while her eyes were red
with weeping.
“The Duke of Arcos is in safety, noble
lady,” replied the young tribune with an air
of affected coolness. “He has taken refuge
in the Custel-Nuovo.”
“Heaven lie praised!” murmured Isabella,
clasping her hands and looking upward.
“And now,” added she, “what do you intend
to do, Masaniello?”
“Every tie is broken between Spain and
Naples, between the executioner and his vic
tim. Let not your father agair. attempt-to
shed the blood of the Neapolitan people. All
his endeavors to regain the power he has lost
would be useless. Let him return to Madrid
mnd leave us free."
“Then—you drive us away.”’
“The dethronement of the king of Spain
has been proclaimed. To-morrow, noble
lady, -a bark wild conduct you to your father,
-and you can then acquaint him with the
resolution of the j>eople. ”
“The Duke ef Arcos is of noble birth, and
he-oertainly will not meat your wishes so
easily as you seem to think. ”
“Then let him prepare for war; we ur6
ready.”
“it -it you *vho speak thus, Masaniello, you
whom I lovo, you for w.hora I braved my
father’s anger”
“It is the people’s will,'”-interrupted Masa
niello, “and 1 must obey .it”’
“The peeiple’s will 1 But are you not mas
ter of Naples?”
“Your father has 'already deceived us
twice.”
“Masaniello, no mere!” exclaimed the
young girl. “I love yt?u”
“Silence!” replied Masaniello; “the people
sire watching at the gates, and their auger is
inexorable; you will lose us both.”
The young Spaniard approached Masani
ello, and, leaning on .bis shoulder, said:
“What are the conditions 1 am to carry to
the .Castel-Nuoyo?”
“1 have a,ready told.them to you ”
“What .do I hear?”
“Is it .not enough to grant the Duke of Ar
<eos his life? Had he .conquered would ha
have .spared us?”
“Oh,you cannot Jsrve me!” said Isabella,
with a look .that made Masaniello'* heart sink
within him.
“I listen but to my honor and my duty.
Oh, could Tlisten to my love! Pity! pityl”
“Then there is no more hope?”
“Alas 1 !”
“Be its©'!” replied the proud Spanish girl,
drawing herself up to her full height. “The
daughter of the Dukeof Arcos is sufficiently
humiliated, without begging any longer.
Henceforth let war and hatred reign be
tween UK.”
“AdieuT” murmured Masaniello.
“Unhappy being that l am !” exclaimed tho
young girl, whose heart was ready to burst
at the thought of this eternal separation.
And she threw herself into the arms of Masa
niello, who felt her lips touch bis.
“My head .swims,” gasped the unfortunate
young man, “my resolution is giving way.
Isabella, listen to rue.”
“You are my lover, my affianced. Oh,
drive me not from Naples; do not send me to
die, inconsolable and in exile, far from you!”
■—and the* tears of the lovely Spaniard fell
upon the face of Masaniello.
“Oh, yes, to be separated from you would
indeed be misery, my well beloved!’ ex
claimed the fisherman. “Yes, the Duke of
Arcos shall once more see how great is tho
forbearance of the victorious. Pietro shall
give you to-morrow the edicts I have pub
lished ; your father can sign them, re-estab
lish the charter of Charles the Fifth, .and re
turn to his palace.”
.Isabella still remained in the fisherman’s
arms, bestowing on him tho most tender
marks of gratitude.
CHAPTER XIV
ABDUCTION.
Corcelli’s men took up their quarters at an
inn in the faubourg of Lorette. As soon as
they had entered Corcelli called for the land
lord.
“Wliat’s your name?” said he.
“I am called 11 Cappucino, rnonsignore,”
replied the tavern keeper, casting an uneasy
glance around him.
“Well, then, reverendissimo Cappucino,”
said Corcelli, “serve us up a tub of olla po
drida, lots of smoked hams and a cask of
wine of Vesuvius. Do you hear?”
“Yes, monsignore, I hear; your lordship
wants a tub of olla podrida, lots of smoked
hams and a cask of lacryma Cristi.”
“Just so.”
“But these things will cost rather dear.”
“What does that matter? Masaniello, the
head of the people, will pay.”
“Hey!” said tho tavern keeper, shaking his
head.
Corcelli looked at his musket, leveled it at
the tavern keeper, aud added:
“Masaniello, I repeat, will pay.”
The tavern keeper immediately withdrew,
bowing to the ground.
“Wo shall leave for the Apennines to
night, you scoundrels,” said Corcelli, address
ing his band. “You can all drink as much
as you like, but those who get drunk will be
left behind, and to-morrow they will be
hanged.”
Having said this, Corcelli sat down and be
gan to fill his pipe, for be was a great smoker,
iu spite of the laws of tho holy Catholic,
Apostolic and Roman Church.
The cila podrida, tho hams and the wine
#oon arrived, and the hungry band fell upon
them like so many wild beasts.
As soon as Corcelli had supped he beckoned
to his two lieutenants and led them into the
adjoining room.
“We have, os you know.” said he, “bfen
balked of the pillage we expected.”
“Yes, duped?” interrupted a little old man
of paternal appearance, and whose angular
face wfis worn and haggard.
This j>era>Hage had !>een nicknamed II
Buon Padre, on accouut of the simplicity of
his gestures and his unctuous way of speak
ing We need not add that li Buon Padra
was one of the most determined, avaricious
and inexorable rascals of Corcelli’s band.
“The Duke of Arco*," continued Corcelli
“though he had a certain love for hanging
ua. which, I believe, is traditional in hh
family, was yet a very generous viceroy,
who intrusted us, from time to time, with a
lucrative expedition. Then the lords and
ladies of the court sometimes honored us
with their confidence If they wanted to
calm a jealous husbaud or to correct a faith
less lover, it was our poniards they employed
in both cases But this cursed revolution,
which we, like fools, hel[d to bring about,
has deprived us of the best part of our reve
nue.”
“Then why did you lead us against the
Spaniards?” replied II Buon Padre. “Did
you not know that every kind of industry
suffers in time of riot? All confidence is de
stroyed, money there is nothing
to be done on the road, and, per Bacco, w<4
condottieri die of hunger.”
“11 Buon Padre is right,” added Marsupio,
the second lieutenant. “A nobleman like tho
Duke of Arcos, whose ancestors have inhab
ited a castle on the top of a mountain for the
last five centuries, and who have never had
any occupation but that of slaughtering the
monks and plundering all travelers, can un
derstand a business like ours. He has some
resj>ect for us gentlemen of the rhountains,
and makes sbirri of us when we grow old
and when the sharp air of the Apennines no
longer suits our health. But these fishermen
and peasants have neither pity nor consider
ation for us."
After having allowed his lieutenants to give
free course to their bad humor, Corcelli
said:
“Masaniello has promised to pay me twenty
thousand ducats, but the humbug will be.
like enough to send down here five or six
hundred fishermen armed with boat hooks,
and to have us harpooned like congers. What
do you think, Marsupio?”
“1 think that viceroys in hobnails are
more dangerous than those in velvet doub
lets,” replied the lieutenant, pouring himself
out a glass of wine, which he swallowed at
one draught.
“I have, therefore, determined,” continued
Corcelli, “to leave this very uight, but before
doing so"
Here his voice became nearly -inaudible.
“In a word, 1 know where to find a treas
ure —two treasures —which i will carry off at
any time.”
“Ah I” said the two lieutenants—and they
drew nearer to Corcelli, and looked him anx
iously in the face.
“But these treasures are locked up in an
impenetrable house and protected by a strong
guard. ”
“Corpo Santo!” cried II Buon Padre and
Marsupio together.
““In what house?” asked the latter.
“In a convent”
“And of how many soldiers does the guard
consist?”
“Of three hundred —nuns.”
The captain and his two lieutenants burst
into a loud laugh.
“Ah, Corcelli!” said they, rubbing their
hands, “what a jolly fellow you are! A
convent to be stormed and three hundred
nuns to be reduced to slavery! We shall
keep the recollection of this night for a long
time.”
“Is the treasure heavy?” asked II Buon
Padre.
“Why, it is, and it isn’t; but let us get hold
of it first, and we will count the ducats after
ward. ”
“You’re right.”
“But I may as well tell you all,” added Cor
celli. “You recollect that we took the
daughter of the Duke of Arcos to the Abbey
of Santa Chiara this morning?”
“Yes.”
“I know that Jeanre, the sister of Masa
niello, is also staying in the same retreat; I
will carry off these women, and, whichever
may be tho party that triumphs, I shall be
sure to receive a good ransom.”
“W hat is the hour you have fixed on?”
“Midnight.”
“Good,” replied II Buon Padre. “We will
go and direct our men to rub their arms up a
little. For, suppose the nuns should resist!
Hang it! wo must be prepared for every
thing.”
Corcelli and his two lieutenants remained
some time longer in conversation, and then
returned to the room in which their men
were drinking, to give the signal to leave.
The greatest confusion now prevailed
among tho banditti The most intoxicated
of them got up, uttering frightful oaths, as
they tried to keep their equilibrium. Others
sought after their arms, and when the ranks
were at last formed it was discovered that
Conrad, Salvator Rosa’s model, was still ly
ing on tho floor, completely overcome with
liquor.
“Get up, you rascal,” said Corcelli, strik
ing the ground with his foot.
“I wand do ged indo de paggage vagons,”
growled the drunkard.
“Good uight, and good luck to you to-mor
row morning!” said the captain.
He placed himself at the head of his men,
and soon arrived in the neighborhood of the
Abbey of Santa Chiara.
The banditti hid themselves in the masses
of tho surrounding houses, while their cap
tain went to reconnoiter tho convent.
After examining the place for some time,
he found a low chapel, with a slanting roof.
He easily climbed up on the edge that raD
round the top of the chapel, and looked in at
the window in the roof.
Tho abbess and several nuns were engaged
in prayer efround the altar.
CorcePi gave his men the signal to advance
and a minute afterward the window was
broken in, aud the glass of it fell with a loud
crash on tho stone flooring of the choir.
In spite of the rule which commanded the
nuns to keep their eyes constantly fixed on
the ground, they could not hinder themselves
from turning their affrighted looks toward
the place the noise came from.
A man appeared on the edge of the win
dow and jumped nimbly into the middle of
the choir; twenty others followed, and took
up their station on each side of the altar.
The nuns did not move. Their duty, a?
doubtless their fear, riveted them to theii
places.
They appeared as if under the influence of
a frightful dream.
Corcelli advanced toward the abbess, and
made her a mock obeisance.
II Buon Padre and Marsupio placed sen
tinels at every outlet, so that no one might
escape.
“Venerable mother,” said Corcelli to the
abbess, “permit a repentant sinner to kiss
your hand.”
And h took her band,"kissed a magnifi
cent emerald which was on one of her fin
gers, drew it off, and let it fall into the im
mense pocket of his tunic.
“Help, sisters, help!” cried the abbess.
“Prepare your arms,” roared Corcelli, in a
roice of thunder, “and shoot the first of these
women who stirs or utters the least cry.”
The nuns covered their faces with their
veils; and then began a frightful scene of
sacrilege and spoliation.
The brigands had not half accomplished
their work of pillage and destruction, when
Corcelli, taking aside ten of his most de
termined scoundrels, approached the abbess.
“Have not two women taken refuge in
your convent todayf’ inquired be.
“Two women! 1 ’ stammered the abbess,
whose head wus now confused by fear. “Yes
—certainly—but of whom are you talking?’
“Of Isabella, the daughter of the Duke of
Arcos, and of Jeanne, the sister of Masani
ella You must deliver these two women up
to us."
“Oh! never! never!" exclaimed the abbess,
wringing her hands.
“Obey instantly, old woman!" replied Cor
celli, striking the ground with his musket.
“05c; \f instantly, old woman!"
“No! it shall never be said that I gave up
two young girls who had sought refuge in
the sanctuary of my convent!"
An instant afterward she fell back,
wounded in the arm by a trust from Cor
ceili’s poniard.
“Where are they?” roared Corcelli, foam
ing with rage.
The abbess answered nothing.
“Nuns of hell," exclaimed he, “will you de
liver up to me Isabella, the daughter of the
Duke of Arcos, and Jeanne, the sister of Ma
saniello?"
No voice returned an answer.
Corcelli repeated his question.
Then an old sister advanced, and taking
God to witness that 6ke and her companions
were acting under the influence of fear, she
led the bandit into the cell occupied by the
young girls.
Jeanne and Isabella were asleep in the
same bed.
The old nun awoke the sister and the affi
anced of Masa niello.
“Rise and dress yourselves, my dear chil
dren," said she.
“Why so, good mother?” asked Isabella.
“You will know but too soon. Hasten,
then, and dress yourselves, and offer up a
fervent prayer to heaveii. Tho convent has
been invaded. '*
“But where is my brother?" exclaimed
Jeanne.
“Masaniello is doubtless still ignorant of
thy misfortune. Tho holy Madonna alone
can save us.”
The two girls put their clothes on hastily.
Corcelli summoned Isabella to his pres
ence.
‘‘Senora,” said he, “prepare to follow me.
Your father, the Duke of Arcos, is waiting
for you at the Castel-Nuovo, and I have or
ders to take you to him.”
“Has he given you any letter for me?"
“Any letter! —ah! noble lady, can you
think me siliy enough to have such a thing
about me? If these beggarly Neapolitans
had stopped and searched me, I should have
been lost."
Isabella hesitated.
“Your companion must also accompany
you. Tho Duke of Arcos wills it so.”
“But my father does not know Jeanne.”
“It is I who have spoken to him of the sis
ter of Masaniello.”
“What can be my father’s object in wish
ing Jeanne to accompany me to the Castel-
Nuovo?”
“Masaniello holds you as a hostage."
“Well?”
“Corpo Santo! the Duke of Arcos would
not be sorry to have, in his turn, the sister of
Masaniello in his power.”
“It is false, villain!” exclaimed Isabella,
with indignation. “My father is a Castil
ian, my father is a nobleman, and he is in
capable of having given you such an order.”
“Less words, if you please,” cried Corcelli;
and turning to his men, ho added: “To your
duty!”
Five or six brigands rushed into the cell,
seized the young girls, bound them in spite
of their cries, and then gagged them both.
Corcelli returned to the chapel, barricaded
the gates of the convent on the outside, and
effected his retreat with his double prey
without having aroused any one in tho whole
neighborhood.
(CHAPTER XV.
DOM FIIANCESCO.
Pietro had faithfully executed the orders
of Masaniello; but, by a fatal series of cir
cumstances, he had been able to save neither
his affianced nor Isabella.
The smuggler had followed them in their
flight from the faubourg of Loretto to the
Convent of Santa Chiara, and had hidden
himself in an alley opposite, in order the
better to observe their movements. Unfor
tunately, the beginning of this alley was oc
cupied by four or five of Cotcelli’s men, who
hindered Pietro from seeing, forced as he
was to retreat to the end of the alley, what
was going on.
At last Corcelli and his men set off from
the convent, but Pietro still remained ignor
ant of what had taken place. He followed,
and only learned his misfortune when, after
walking some distance, he saw the banditti
open the thick rank in which they were
marching, while Corcelli led the prisoners to
a calessmo which was waiting to receive
them. The vehicle took the road to Calabria
and the banditti formed themselves into a
running escort by the side of it.
Pietro still followed, for it was, above all,
necessary that he should know to what place
Corcelli conducted his victims.
On, on he ran, with the courage of despair,
until lie at last fell down, worn out with
fatigue and weeping with rage, in the middle
of the road.
The poor fellow managed to' drag himself
back to the faubourg of Loretto, where he
ax-rived at break of day.
He entered the tavern of II Cappucino, and
found Conrad still asleep there.
Pietro called up poor Cappucino.
‘•You have had carousing hero to-night?”
said he to the tavern keeper.
“Ah! signore mio carissimo! don’t speak of
it,” replied II Cappuciua; “but,” added he,
in a plaintive voice, “do you know Masa
uielloif”
“Yes.”
“Well, then, this scoundrel hero and his
followers, who have consumea more olla
podrida, harps and wine than would keep all
the k! ig’s cavalry for a week, have told mo
that Masaniello will pay for what they have
Lad. Do you believe it?”
“How can 1 know? But listen," added
Pietro; “if you will obey mo, I promise you
that you shall be paid.”
“What must 1 do, then, Santa Maria del
Carmine?”
“One of these fellows is still here?”
“Yes, signore mu* a horrid. German, who
eats like a boa constrictor, and drinks more
than a fish.”
“Keep him here till I return.” *
“Will that be soon? for if I have to keep
him long"
“Fear nothing. Let him have what be
likes, and you shall bo paid to the last
penny."
And Pietro cast a glance or two at Conrad,
in order to see with what sort of a rascal he
had to deal, and then took his departure for
tho Vicaria.
Naples bad just awoke .when Dom Fran
cesco knocked at the gates of the \ icaria.
He was immediately received by Masaniello,
who Jed him into the council chamber.
[TO BK CONTINCKD.]
YOUR EARS
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A PREACHER CURED OF DYSPEPSIA.^^*
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All who desire full information about
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‘'*Hackmetagk, m a lasting and frag
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For sale by J. R. Wiklt tfe Cos. O-rters
vibe, and J. M. Gray, Adairsville,
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You will have no use for spectacles if
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