They then returned to the carriage, and found the horses grazing contentedly on the young grass that bordered the road. For a little while no one found a voice. They stood absorbed in thoughts of joy, agitation, and gratitude; the women regarding the figure of the stranger with fervent admiration. How beautiful is valor, particularly when shown in the defense of honor and loveliness in woman, whose appreciation of courage is a deep instinct of her nature. Be a lover bold and fearless, as well as spotless, a despiser of death, as well as graceful in life, and you will not fail to win both praise and love from beauty. This sympathy of the fair sex with lofty qualities in the sex of action has been the chief promoter of human civilization and social happiness. For woman's love alone man has gradually put aside his masculine coarseness, and contempt for outward appearances, becoming docile, refined, and elegant, while his rougher virtue of courage was softened into chivalry. So far from being his "inferior," woman was appointed the instructress of man, and designed by the Creator to mould and educate his moral nature. We have said our fair travellers gazed with admiration at the fine person of the brigand--for "brigand" we must unwillingly confess their deliverer to be--and as they gazed, the younger members of the party, it may be acknowledged, imported into their glance a little more gratitude than the absent lovers, Attilio and Muzio, would perhaps have wished. But admiration gave place to _surprise_, when the brigand, taking Silvia's hand, kissed it, with tears, saying- "You do not remember me, Signora? Look at my left eye: had it not been for your maternal care, the accident to it would have cost me my life." "Orazio! Orazio!" cried the matron, embracing him. "Yes, it is indeed the son of my old friend." "Yes, I am Orazio, whom you received in a dying condition, and nursed back to life; the poor orphan whom you nourished and fed when left in absolute need," he replied, as he returned her embrace tenderly. After exchanging these words of recognition, and receiving others of ardent gratitude from the party, Orazio explained how he had been hunting in the neighborhood, when he saw the attack, and came to do what he could for the ladies. He advised Manlio to put them into the carriage again, and depart with all speed; "for," said he, "two of these bandits have escaped, and may possibly return with several of their band." Then, ascertaining the name of the port from which they intended sailing, he offered to become their charioteer, and, mounting the box, drove off rapidly in the direction of Porto d'Anzo.