music and the accompanying voices, onward and still on, with
ever-increasing rapidity. At length his obstinacy was overcome, as much
by the absurdity of the affair as its personal inconvenience.

"Cease, cease," he cried; "have done with this, and the money you demand
shall be forthcoming. A pack of fiends were better companions, I trow,
than your blackamoor troop. Let me on, then, and I will lead you to my
cash-box, and after you have there satisfied yourselves, I pray you to
go your ways like honest thieves, as you are."

"Take heed what you say, Jean," replied the chief masker. "We are
honest, that is true enough, and we only want a fair payment for our
services. Our band never performs for a less price than a thousand
crowns, nor will we ask more than this of a worthy soldier like
yourself. So lead the way, my friend, we follow close on your steps."

With jingling steel and shrilly pipe, the troop retraced its course,
till on arriving at the lodging-place of Jean Maret, the latter paid
down the needful scot, indulging himself while counting out the coin in
various hearty objurgations which seemed to add no little to the
amusement of his hearers. Meanwhile, from mouth to mouth, among the
villagers, who gathered round the scene, passed the whispered murmur:

"Sartello, the bandit chief, and his followers!"

The person thus indicated turned to the shrinking crowd, and lifting the
mask from his face, he addressed them thus:

"Good friends, our play is finished. The players through me, desire to
make you their most respectful bow, thanking you for your good company.