He was standing, his arms folded, near Rita, who was still insensible.

Cucumetto fancied for a moment the young man was about to take her in his arms and fly; but this mattered little to him now Rita had been his; and as for the money, three hundred piastres distributed among the band was so small a sum that he cared little about it.

He continued to follow the path to the glade; but, to his great surprise, Carlini arrived almost as soon as himself.

'Let us draw lots! let us draw lots!' cried all the brigands, when they saw the chief.
"Their demand was fair, and the chief inclined his head in sign of acquiescence.

The eyes of all shone fiercely as they made their demand, and the red light of the fire made them look like demons.