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to her and my detention in her home； merely saying that I had had a
scuffle with brigands and had been fortunate enough to escape under cover
of the night。 As we passed it next morning I recognised the path which led
up to Valeria's cottage； and shortly after observed that young woman
herself coming up the glen。
〃Holloa！〃 I said； with great presence of mind； as she drew near； 〃my
lovely model； I declare！ Just you ride on； old fellow； while I stop and ask
her when she can come and sit to me again。〃
〃You artists are sad rogues； what chances your profession must give
you！〃 remarked my companion； as he cast an admiring glance on Valeria
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and rode discreetly on。
〃There is nothing to be afraid of； lovely Valeria；〃 I said； in a low tone；
as I lingered behind； 〃be sure I will never betray either your or your
rascallyhem！ I mean your excellent Croppo。 By the by； was that man
much hurt that I was obliged to trip up？〃
〃Hurt！ Santa Maria！ he is dead； with a bullet through his heart。 Croppo
says it must have been magic； for he had searched you and he knew you
were not armed； and he was within a hundred yards of you when poor
Pippo fell； and he heard no sound。〃
〃Croppo is not far wrong；〃 I said； glad of the opportunity thus offered
of imposing on the ignorance and credulity of the natives。 〃He seemed
surprised that he could not frighten me the other night。 Tell him he was
much more in my power than I was in his； dear Valeria；〃 I added； looking
tenderly into his eyes。 〃I didn't want to alarm you； that was the reason I let
him off so easily； but I may not be so merciful next time。 Now； sweetest；
that kiss you owe me； and which the wall prevented your giving me the
other night。〃 She held up her face with the innocence of a child as I
stooped from my saddle。
〃I shall never see you again； Signor Inglese；〃 she said； with a sigh； 〃for
Croppo says it is not safe； after what happened the night before last； to
stay another hour。 Indeed； he went off yesterday； leaving me orders to
follow to…day； but I went first to put your sketch…book under the bush
where the donkey fell； and where you will find it。〃
It took us another minute or two to part after this； and when I had
ridden away I turned to look back； and there was Valeria gazing after me。
〃Positively；〃 I reflected； 〃I am over head and ears in love with the girl； and
I believe she is with me。 I ought to have nipped my feelings in the bud
when she told me she was his wife； but then he is a brigand； who
threatened both my ears and my tongue； to say nothing of my life。 To what
extent is the domestic happiness of such a ruffian to be respected？〃 And I
went on splitting the moral straws suggested by this train of thought until I
had recovered my sketch…book and overtaken my escort； with whom I rode
triumphantly back into Ascoli； where my absence had been the cause of
much anxiety and my fate was even then being eagerly discussed。 My
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friends with whom I usually sat round the chemist's door were much
exercised by the reserve which I manifested in reply to the fire of cross…
examination to which I was subjected for the next few days； and English
eccentricity； which was proverbial even in this secluded town； received a
fresh illustration in the light and airy manner with which I treated a
capture and escape from brigands； which I regarded with such indifference
that I could not be induced even to condescend to details。 〃It was a mere
scuffle； there were only four； and； being an Englishman； I polished them
all off with the 'box；' 〃 and I closed my fist and struck a scientific attitude
of self…defence； branching off into a learned disquisition on the pugilistic
art； which filled my hearers with respect and amazement。 From this time
forward the sentiment with which I regarded my air…gun underwent a
change。 When a friend had made me a present of it a year before I
regarded it in the light of a toy and rather resented the gift as too juvenile。
〃I wonder he did not give me a kite or a hoop；〃 I mentally reflected。 Then
I had found it useful among Italians； who are a trifling people and like
playthings； but now that it had saved my life and sent a bullet through a
man's heart； I no longer entertained the same feeling of contempt for it。
Not again would I make light of itthis potent engine of destruction which
had procured me the character of being a magician。 I would hide it from
human gaze and cherish it as a sort of fetich。 So I bought a walking… stick
and an umbrella； and strapped it up with them； wrapped in my plaid； and
when； shortly after； an unexpected remittance from an aunt supplied me
with money enough to buy a horse from one of the officers of my friend's
regiment； which soon after arrived； and I accepted their invitation to
accompany them on their brigand…hunting expeditions； not one of them
knew that I had such a weapon as an air… gun in my possession。
Our /modus operandi/ on these occasions was as follows： On receiving
information from some proprietor that the brigands were threatening his
property；it was impossible to get intelligence from the peasantry； for they
were all in league with the brigands； indeed； they all took a holiday from
regular work and joined a band for a few weeks from time to time；we
proceeded； with a force sufficiently strong to cope with the supposed
strength of the band； to the farm in question。 The bands were all mounted；
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and averaged from 200 to 400 men each。 It was calculated that upward of
2000 men were thus engaged in harrying the country； and this enabled the
Neri to talk of the king's forces engaged in legitimate warfare against
those of Victor Emmanuel。 Riding over the vast plains of Capitanata； we
would discern against the sky outline the figure of a solitary horseman。
This we knew to be a picket。 Then there was no time to be lost； and away
we would go for him helter…skelter acros