He drew his sword, but being only one against three, he would have fared very ill if a stranger, who was playing in the same room, had not exclaimed, "I, too, am a Corsican," and come to his rescue.

This stranger was one of the Barricini, who, for that matter, was not acquainted with his countryman.
After mutual explanations, they interchanged courtesies and vowed eternal friendship.

For on the Continent, quite contrary to their practice in their own island, Corsicans quickly become friends.

This fact was clearly exemplified on the present occasion.

As long as della Rebbia and Barricini remained in Italy they were close friends.