Abellino, folding his arms--"If I be such as you describe," said he,
with an air of authority, and in a voice which made his hearers
tremble, "'tis for me all the better. Whate'er may be my future
mode of life, Heaven can have no right to find fault with it, since
it was for that it formed and fitted me."

The five bravoes stepped aside, and consulted together. The subject
of their conference is easy to be divined. In the meanwhile
Abellino remained quiet and indifferent to what was passing.

After a few minutes they again approached him. One, whose
countenance was the most ferocious, and whose form exhibited the
greatest marks of muscular strength, advanced a few paces before the
rest, and addressed Abellino as follows:-

"Hear me, comrade. In Venice there exist but five banditti; you see
them before you; wilt thou be the sixth? Doubt not thou wilt find
sufficient employment. My name is Matteo, and I am the father of
the band: that sturdy fellow with the red locks is called Baluzzo;
he, whose eyes twinkle like a cat's, is Thomaso, an arch-knave, I
promise you; 'twas Pietrino whose bones you handled so roughly to-
night; and yon thick-lipped Colossus, who stands next to Cinthia, is
named Stuzza. Now, then, you know us all--and since you are a
penniless devil, we are willing to incorporate you in our society;
but we must first be assured that you mean honestly by us."

Abellino smiled, or rather grinned, and murmured hoarsely--"I am
starving."

"Answer, fellow! Dost thou mean honestly by us?"