the little theatre San Carlino, in the Largo del
Castello, was shut up. Saxon and Castletowers
had gone down there, on their way to the opera,
intending to pay a visit to Pulichinello; but
they found the doors closed, and a sentry pacing
before them. That witty and patriotic puppet
had fallen a victim to his political opinions, and
was now a state prisoner in his own little
theatre.

Such was the condition of Naples when Saxon
made his first acquaintance with the beautiful
city. The king was still at the Palazzo Reale;
the people were in a ferment; and Garibaldi was
on the march.

CHAPTER LXXIV. COLONNA'S HAND.

THEY were going up Vesuvius!
Happy youth, which can forget its cares so
easily, and float with every tide! Here were two
young men snatching a hasty breakfast on the
terrace in front of their hotel, while the carriage
which was to convey them to Resina waited at the
door. They had risen with the sun; they were in
high spirits; they talked more than they ate, and
laughed more than either. Who would have
supposed that the one had been robbed of half his
fortune, and the other rejected by the lady of his
love? Who would have supposed that each had
a real sorrow at heart? And, above all, who
would not covet that healthy elasticity of temper
which enabled them to put their troubles aside,
and make the best of the sunshiny present?

"Confound the arm!" said the Earl. "I don't
know how I am to get up the cone without the
help of it!"

"You must be carried," replied Saxon,
vigorously attacking a fragrant "bifteck," surrounded
by a golden fence of "pommes de terre frites."
"It's expensive and ignominious; but I can
suggest nothing better."

"Consent to become a parcel?" exclaimed the
Earl. "Never. Am I not a man and a biped?"

"Men and bipeds must occasionally do what
they don't like to do, I presume, as well as women
and quadrupeds," replied Saxon.

"There is one consolatory fact of which I am
quite certain," replied the Earl; "and that is,
that men and bipeds have the best of the bargain
—at all events, in this world."

"Not a doubt of it. What splendid stuff this
Lachryma is!"

"There's a poor wretch down there, however,
who looks as if his worldly bargain had been bad
enough!" said the Earl, tossing a handful of
carlini to a beggar who had been mumbling and
bowing in the road below, ever since the young
men had sat down to breakfast.

The waiter in attendance shrugged his shoulders,
and smiled.

"Son' tutti ladroni, signore," said he. " Tutti
—tutti!"

The beggar picked up the coins with a great
show of gratitude, and called upon a variety of
saints to shower down blessings on the giver.

"Good Heavens!" exclaimed Saxon, setting
down the glass which he had just raised to his
lips.

The Earl looked up in surprise.

"Why, my good fellow," said he, "what is
he matter with you? You look as if you had
seen a ghost."

But, instead of replying, Saxon turned to the
waiter.

"Bring me a cup of strong coffee," he said.
"Bring it immediately."

The waiter withdrew. Saxon at once laid his
hand on his friend's arm, leaned closer to him,
and said in a hurried whisper:

'"It's Signor Montecuculi—that Montecuculi
whom I saw once at Castletowers!"

"Montecuculi! Where? What do you
mean?"

"There—the beggar yonder—don't you see?
He has something to say to us!"

"But are you certain?"

"Certain. I saw his face quite plainly. Ha!
What's this?"

The beggar had withdrawn a little into the
shade of the roadside trees; but a stone came
whirring through the air, and crashed down, as
Saxon spoke, into the midst of the breakfast-
table. There was a paper twisted about it,
which the Earl had barely time to secure before
the waiter came back. As soon as that
functionary could be again dismissed, the young men
hastened to examine it.

"Colonna's hand!" exclaimed the Earl, as his
eyes fell on the writing.

There were but three or four lines, and they
ran thus:

"In great peril. Concealed near the coast.
Enemies on the alert. Bring a sailing boat.
Anchor off shore, in a line with the ruins of
Cumæ. Be prepared with row-boat, and look out
for signals about dusk."

"How lucky that we were detained here!"
was Saxon's first exclamation.

"We must not think of Vesuvius now," said
the Earl.

"Of course not!"

"We can say that we have changed our minds,
and prefer a day on the water. It will be easy
to cruise about the coast in that direction, fishing,
or sketching.

"Nothing easier."

"And we'll get him off, somehow!"

"That we will, in spite of Francesco
Secondo!"

CHAPTER LXXV. ORTHODOX BRITISH TOURISTS.

THE Albula coasted ostentatiously about the
bay all the forenoon, but shortly after mid-day
rounded Monte Procida, and cast anchor at the
point indicated in Colonna's note.

Her crew was now strengthened by the
addition of a small, active, swarthy Italian sailor,
with gold rings in his ears, and a scarlet cap
upon his head. He was an "odd hand," whom