As he approached, Carlini raised his head, and the forms of two persons became visible to the old man's eyes.
A woman lay on the ground, her head resting on the knees of a man, who was seated by her; as he raised his head, the woman's face became visible.

The old man recognized his child, and Carlini recognized the old man.

'I expected thee,' said the bandit to Rita's father.--'Wretch!' returned the old man, 'what hast thou done ?' and he gazed with terror on Rita, pale and bloody, a knife buried in her bosom.

A ray of moonlight poured through the trees, and lighted up the face of the dead.--'Cucumetto had violated thy daughter,' said the bandit; 'I loved her, therefore I slew her; for she would have served as the sport of the whole band.' The old man spoke not, and grew pale as death.

'Now,' continued Carlini, 'if I have done wrongly, avenge her;' and withdrawing the knife from the wound in Rita's bosom, he held it out to the old man with one hand, while with the other he tore open his vest.--'Thou hast done well!' returned the old man in a hoarse voice; 'embrace me, my son.' Carlini threw himself, sobbing like a child, into the arms of his mistress's father.