They had seen no one.

'That is very annoying,' said the brigadier; for the man we are looking for is the chief.'-- 'Cucumetto ?' cried Luigi and Teresa at the same moment.
"'Yes,' replied the brigadier; 'and as his head is valued at a thousand Roman crowns, there would have been five hundred for you, if you had helped us to catch him.' The two young persons exchanged looks.

The brigadier had a moment's hope.

Five hundred Roman crowns are three thousand lire, and three thousand lire are a fortune for two poor orphans who are going to be married.
"'Yes, it is very annoying,' said Vampa; 'but we have not seen him.' "Then the carbineers scoured the country in different directions, but in vain; then, after a time, they disappeared.

Vampa then removed the stone, and Cucumetto came out.