or girl out of the clutches of
the accursed Capuzzi, at whatever cost.

The latter, welcomed in this charming manner (which he by no means
deserved) by his delightful niece, forgot his troubles; he smiled, and
ogled, working his lips so that his moustaches went up and down; and he
groaned and whined, not so much from pain as from amorousness.

Antonio skilfully prepared the bed for his patient, and when he had
been laid down upon it, tightened the bandages--and did so to such an
extent on the left leg, that the old gentleman had, perforce, to lie as
motionless as a wooden doll. Salvator went away, leaving the lovers to
their happiness.

The old gentleman was lying buried in cushions, and Antonio had,
moreover, so bound a thick cloth soaked in ice-water about his head,
that he could not hear a trace of what the lovers were whispering; so
they now, for the first time, uttered all that was in their hearts, and
vowed eternal fidelity, with tears and the sweetest kisses. The old man
could not possibly have any suspicion, as Marianna, every now and then,
kept asking him if there was anything he wanted, and even permitted him
to press her little white hand to his lips. When it was high day,
Antonio hastened away, according to his own statement, to order what
was further necessary for the patient, but, in reality, to consider how
he might possibly manage to keep him in a still more helpless state, if
he could, so that Salvator and he might reflect upon what steps were to
be taken in the next place.

* * * * * *

A fresh plot which Salvator and Antonio form, and carry out upon Signor
Pasquale Capuzzi and his associates; and the results thereof.

On the following morning Antonio came to Salvator, all vexation and
anger.

"Well, how goes it?" Salvator cried to him. "What are you hanging your
head for, superlatively happy man, who can kiss and caress his darling
every day?"

"Ah, Salvator!" answered Antonio; "it is all over with my happiness.
The devil delights in making me the sport of his tricks. Our plots have
all come to nothing, and we are at open war with the accursed Capuzzi."

"So much the better! so much the better!" said Salvator. "But tell me
what has been happening."

"Just imagine, Salvator," said Antonio. "When, yesterday, I was going
back to Strada Ripetta, after I had been gone about two hours, bringing
all sorts of essences, &c., there I saw the old gentleman sta