seeking her out?"

"That is exactly what I mean to say."

Esperance looked at his friend quizzically and, at the same time,
uneasily.

"When do you design seeking her out?"

"This very night."

"In the Trastavere?"

"No. You did not hear her aright. She said she lived in the country,
just beyond the Trastavere. I will seek her there."

"What! Alone?"

"Alone."

"Beware, Giovanni! Her bright eyes may lead you into danger! How do you
know that she has not some fierce brigand lover, who will meet you with
a stiletto?"

"Nonsense! Your fears are childish!"

"I am not so sure of that. The country beyond the Trastavere is
infested by daring robbers, who would not hesitate to seize you and hold
you for a ransom. Only the other day the notorious Luigi Vampa performed
just such an exploit, exacting a very large sum for the release of his
prisoner, who was a wealthy nobleman like yourself."

"I will take the chances!"

"You are mad!"

"I am not. I have no fear of brigands. They would not dare to lay even a
finger upon a Massetti!"

The young Viscount drew himself up proudly as he spoke. He believed the
power of his family invincible.

Esperance was at a total loss to understand the firm hold this sudden
infatuation had taken upon his friend. Of course, he fully comprehended
the influence of female beauty over hot, headstrong youth, and he
acknowledged to himself that Annunziata was really very beautiful and
alluring; still, she was not more so than hosts of other girls who would
be glad to win a smile from the Viscount Massetti at almost any price,
and whose pursuit would be altogether unattended with danger. It was
well known that the shrewd brigands frequently sent handsome young women
to Rome to entice their prey to them, and might not Annunziata Solara,
with all her apparent demureness, be one of those dangerous Delilahs?

After several further attempts to dissuade the Viscount from the rash
venture he had decided upon making, all of which were vain, Esperance
resolved that his impetuous friend should not go alone that night in
quest of the fascinating Annunziata. He would follow him unseen and
endeavor to protect him should the necessity arise. He knew the
Viscount's nature too thoroughly to propose accompanying him, as such a
proposition would undoubtedly be received with scorn, if not as an
absolute insult. He would, however, keep track of him and, if all went
well, Massetti would be none the wiser