"'Nothing to be so frightened about,' was the answer. 'For a week past we have been hunting every where for a musician, without being able to find one. The captain will be delighted to see you.' "'What!' cried I, 'are you going to take me to the captain?' "'Certainly we are.' "'To separate me from my companions?' "'What can we do with them? _They_ are not musicians.' "'Gentlemen!' cried I, 'for God's sake, help me! do not let me be carried off in this manner.' "'The gentlemen will have the goodness to remain with their noses in the dust for the space of a quarter of an hour,' said the brigand. 'As to the officer, tie him to a tree,' continued he, to the four men who were holding the hussar. 'In a quarter of an hour the postillion will untie him. Not a minute sooner, if you value your life.' "The postillion gave a sort of affirmative grunt, and the robbers now moved off in the direction of the mountains. I was led between two of them. After marching for some time, we saw a light in a window, and presently halted at a little inn on a cross-road. The bandits went up stairs, excepting two, who remained with me in the kitchen, and one of whom had appropriated my fowling-piece, and the other my game-bag. As to my diamond ring and my hundred crowns, they had become perfectly invisible. "Presently somebody shouted from above, and my guards, taking me by the collar, pushed me up stairs, and into a room on the first floor. "Seated at a table, upon which was a capital supper and numerous array of bottles, was the captain of the robbers, a fine-looking man of thirty-five or forty years of age. He was dressed exactly like a theatrical robber, in blue velvet, with a red sash and silver buckles. His arm was passed round the waist of a very pretty girl in the costume of a Roman peasant; that is to say, an embroidered boddice, short bright-coloured petticoat, and red stockings. Her feet attracted my attention, they were so beautifully small. On one of her fingers I saw my diamond ring--a circumstance which, as well as the company in which I found her, gave me a very indifferent idea of the young lady's morality. "'What countryman are you?' asked the captain. "'I am a Frenchman, your excellency.' "'So much the better!' cried the young girl. "I saw with pleasure that, at any rate, I was amongst people who spoke my own language. "'You are a musician?' "'I am fourth bass at the Marseilles theatre.' "'Bring this gentleman's bass,' said the captain to one of his men. 'Now, my little Rina,' said he, turning to his mistress, 'I hope you are ready to dance." "'I always was,' answered she, 'but how could I without music?' "'_Non ho trovato l'instrumento_,' said the robber, reappearing at the door. "'What!' cried the captain in a voice of thunder; 'no instrument?' "'Captain,' interposed his lieutenant, 'I searched every where, but could not find even the smallest violoncello.' "'_Bestia_!' cried the captain.