"What, is the reason?" "These confounded disturbances," said the Doctor languidly. "Disturbances?" "Yes. I hear that the road between this and Bologna swarms with vagabonds. Several diligences have been robbed. I heard a story which shows this state of things. A band of men entered the theatre of a small town along the road while the inhabitants were witnessing the play. At first the spectators thought it was part of the performance. They were soon undeceived. The men drew up in line in front of the stage and levelled their pieces. Then fastening the doors, they sent a number of men around through the house to plunder the whole audience. Not content with this they made the authorities of the town pay a heavy ransom." "Some one has been humbugging you, Doctor," said Buttons. "I had it from good authority," said the Doctor, calmly. "These fellows call themselves Revolutionists, and the peasantry sympathize with them." "Well, if we meet with them there will be a little additional excitement." "Yes, and the loss of our watches and money." "We can carry our money where they won't find it, and our bills of exchange are all right, you know." "I think none of you will accuse me of want of courage. If I met these fellows you know very well that I would go in for fighting them. But what I do object to is the infernal bother of being stopped, detained, or perhaps sent back. Then if any of us got wounded we would be laid up for a month or so. That's what I object to. If I had to do it it would be different, but I see no necessity." "You surely want to see Lombardy?" "No, I don't." "Not Bologna?" "No." "Ferrara?" "No." "Do you mean to say that you don't want to see Venice and Milan?" "Haven't the remotest desire to see either of the places. I merely wish to get back again to Paris. It's about the best place I've seen yet, except, of course, my native city, Philadelphia. That I think is without an equal. However, our minds are made up. We don't wish to change your plans--in fact, we never thought it possible. We are going to take the steamer at Leghorn for Marseilles, and go on to Paris." "Well, Doctor," said Dick, "will you do me one favor before you go?" "With pleasure. What is it?" "Sell me your pistol." "I can't _sell_ it," said the Doctor. "It was a present to me. But I will be happy to lend it to you till we meet again in Paris. We will be sure to meet there in a couple of months at the furthest." The Doctor took out his pistol and handed it to Dick, who thankfully received it. "Oh, Buttons," said the Senator, suddenly, "I have good news for you. I ought to have told you before." "Good news? what?" "I saw the Spaniards." "The Spaniards!" cried Buttons, eagerly, starting up. "Where did you see them? When? Where are they? I have scoured the whole town." "I saw them at a very crowded assembly at the Countess's. There was such a scrouging that I could not get near them. The three were there. The little Don and his two sisters."