this," he said, "was a present from my mother, who is dead."

The three brigands crossed themselves, and expressed the regrets which
good-breeding required of them. The one that had been the last to help
himself to a cigarette now returned the case to Asabri, with a bow and a
mumbling of thanks.

"What a jolly life you lead," exclaimed the banker. "Tell me, you have
had some good hauls lately? What?"

The oldest of the three, a dark, taciturn youth, answered, "The
gentleman is a great joker."

"Believe me," said Asabri, "it is from habit--not from the heart. When I
rode out from Rome to-day, it was with the intention never to return.
When I came upon you and saw your long guns and suspected your
profession in life, I said: 'Good! Perhaps these young men will murder
me for my watch and cigarette case and the loose silver in my breeches
pocket, and save me a world of trouble----'"

The three brigands protested that nothing had ever been farther from
their thoughts.

"Instead of which," he went on, "you have fed me and put heart in me. I
shall return to Rome in the morning and face whatever music my own
infatuated foolishness has set going. Do you understand anything of
finance?"

The taciturn brigand grinned sheepishly.

He said that he had had one once; but that the priest had touched it
with a holy relic and it had gone away. "It was on the back of my neck,"
he said.

Asabri laughed.

"I should have said banking," said he, "stocks and bonds."

The brigands admitted that they knew nothing of these things. Asabri
sighed.

"Two months ago," he said, "I was a rich man. To-day I have nothing. In
a few days it will be known that I have nothing; and then, my
friends--the deluge. Such is finance. From great beginnings, lame
endings. And yet the converse may be true. I have seen great endings
come of small beginnings. Even now there is a chance for a man with a
little capital...."

He raised his eyes and hands to heaven.

"Oh," he cried, "if I could touch even five thousand lire I could
retrieve my own fortunes and make the fortunes of whomsoever advanced me
the money."

The sullen brigand had been doing a sum on his fingers.

"How so, excellency?" he asked.

"Oh," said Asabri, "it is very simple! I should buy certain stocks,
which owing to certain conditions are very cheap, and I should sell them
very dear. You have heard of America?"

They smiled and nodded eagerly.

"Of Wall Street?"

They looked