I'd have staid three days, if it had been necessary.

At the end of six hours a _Bastiaccio_, a vile money-lender, made his appearance.

As he bent down to take up the money, I fired, and I had aimed so well that, as he fell, his head dropped upon the coins he was unearthing.

'Now, rascal,' said I to the peasant, 'take your money, and never dare to suspect Giocanto Castriconi of a mean trick again!' "The poor devil, all of a tremble, picked up his sixty-five francs without taking the trouble to wipe them.

He thanked me, I gave him a good parting kick, and he may be running away still, for all I know." "Ah, cure!" said Brandolaccio, "I envy you that shot! How you must have laughed!" "I had hit the money-lender in the temple," the bandit went on, "and that reminded me of Virgil's lines:.