nor; and I myself now only rob for amusement, and to
keep my hand in. I trust I have satisfied your curiosity. We are within
a hundred yards of the castle."

"And how," asked the Englishman, whose interest had been much excited
by his companion's narrative,--"and how came you acquainted with my
host?--and by what means has he so well conciliated the goodwill of
yourself and friends?"

Maestro Paolo turned his black eyes very gravely towards his questioner.
"Why, signor," said he, "you must surely know more of the foreign
cavalier with the hard name than I do. All I can say is, that about
a fortnight ago I chanced to be standing by a booth in the Toledo at
Naples, when a sober-looking gentleman touched me by the arm, and said,
'Maestro Paolo, I want to make your acquaintance; do me the favour to
come into yonder tavern, and drink a flask of lacrima.' 'Willingly,'
said I. So we entered the tavern. When we were seated, my new
acquaintance thus accosted me: 'The Count d'O-- has offered to let me
hire his old castle near B--. You know the spot?'

"'Extremely well; no one has inhabited it for a century at least; it
is half in ruins, signor. A queer place to hire; I hope the rent is not
heavy.'

"'Maestro Paolo,' said he, 'I am a philosopher, and don't care for
luxuries. I want a quiet retreat for some scientific experiments.
The castle will suit me very well, provided you will accept me as a
neighbour, and place me and my friends under your special protection.
I am rich; but I shall take nothing to the castle worth robbing. I will
pay one rent to the count, and another to you.'

"With that we soon came to terms; and as the strange signor doubled the
sum I myself proposed, he is in high favour with all his neighbours. We
would guard the whole castle against an army. And now, signor, that I
have been thus frank, be frank with me. Who is this singular cavalier?"

"Who?--he himself told you, a philosopher."

"Hem! searching for the Philosopher's Stone,--eh, a bit of a magician;
afraid of the priests?"

"Precisely; you have hit it."

"I thought so; and you are his pupil?"

"I am."

"I wish you well through it," said the robber, seriously, and crossing
himself with much devotion; "I am not much better than other people,
but one's soul is one's soul. I do not mind a little honest robbery, or
knocking a man on the head if need be,--but to make a bargain with the
devil! Ah, take care, young gentleman, take care!"

"You