THE VILLA FALCOMERI. i ?5 



to escape their notice and carried a warning to the family, who were at dinner, and all of them 

 thus had time to hide except the Prince's secretary, the butler and a face/lino. In the meantime 

 the old priest had contrived to escape. 



The next day the facchino was sent back to treat with the Prince, and to say that unless he 

 sent a ransom of four thousand crowns the prisoners would all be put to death. He sent two 

 thousand and an order on his banker for the remainder. This, however, merely enraged the 

 brigands, who regarded it as a trap, and they returned the order, torn up, with a demand for tour 

 thousand crowns more ; and with this impudent demand the Prince was forced to comply in 

 order to save the lives of his attendants. The brigands were never caught. E. M. P. 



