And yet he overcharged me for my passage, you exclaim! Ay--but he would not have made me the object of impertinent curiosity for twenty times the money! You cannot understand the existence of such conflicting elements in the Italian character?
No--I dare say not.

The tendency of the calculating northerner under the same circumstances would have been to make as much out of me as possible by means of various small and contemptible items, and then to go with broadly honest countenance to the nearest police-station and describe my suspicious appearance and manner, thus exposing me to fresh expense besides personal annoyance.

With the rare tact that distinguishes the southern races the captain changed the conversation by a reference to the tobacco we were both enjoying.
"It is good, is it not ?" he asked.
"Excellent!" I answered, as indeed it was.
His white teeth glittered in a smile of amusement.
"It should be of the finest quality--for it is a present from one who will smoke nothing but the choice brands.

Ah, Dio! what a fine gentleman spoiled is Carmelo Neri!" I could not repress a slight start of surprise.

What caprice of Fate associated me with this famous brigand?
I was actually smoking his tobacco, and I owed all my present wealth to his stolen treasures secreted in my family vault! "You know the man, then ?" I inquired with some curiosity.
"Know him?
As well as I know myself.