THE VILLA FALCONIERl. 
175 
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 facchino. In the meantime 
the old priest had contrived to escape. 
The next day the Jacchino 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 four 
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. 
