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did not tell you I was his brother; I am not a
relative to be proud of.'

'He is in total ignorance of your identity. That I do know.-I wonder at
you choosing such a life,' Maxwell put in boldly. 'With your daring,
you would have made fame as a soldier; any path of life you had chosen
would have brought you honour; but now'--

'But now I am an outlaw,' Paulo Salvarini interrupted. 'And why? If you
will listen, I will tell you my story in a few words.'

Maxwell threw himself upon the grass by the other's side and composed
himself to listen.

'If you will look below you,' the chief commenced, and pointing with
his finger across the distant landscape, 'you will see the sun shining
upon a house-top. I can see the light reflected from it now. That house
was once my home. I like sometimes to sit here and think of those days
when Gillana and I were happy there-that is ten years ago now. I had
done my best for my country; I had fought for her, and I retired to
this peaceful spot with the woman of my heart, to live in peace, as I
hoped, for the rest of my life. But the fiend of Liberty was abroad.
My wife's father, an aged man, was accused of complicity in political
crimes, and one day, when I was absent, they came to arrest him. My
wife clung to him, and one of the brutal soldiery struck her down with
the butt of his rifle; I came in time to see that, for my blood was on
fire, and I did not hesitate. You can understand the rest. My wife was
killed, actually murdered by that foul blow. But I had my revenge. When
I crossed the threshold of my house, on my flight to the mountains, I
left three dead behind me, and another, the officer, wounded sore. He
recovered, I afterwards heard; but some day we shall meet.'

He stopped abruptly, shaking in every limb from the violence of his
emotion, his sombre eyes turned towards the spot where the sun shone
upon the roof-tops of what was once a peaceful homestead.

'Luigi can only guess at this,' the speaker continued. 'To him I have
been dead for years; indeed, I do not know what makes me tell you now,
only that you surprised me, and I like to hear a little news of him.'

'I have heard this history before,' Maxwell observed. 'It is five years
ago now; but I am not likely to forget it. Still, you cannot enjoy this
life. It is wild and exciting, no doubt; but your companions'--

'I live for revenge,' Salvarini exclaimed sternly. 'I am waiting to
meet the brutal officer who ordered his follower to strike down my
wife. I have waited long; but the time will come at length, and then,
heaven help the man called Hector le Gautier!'

'Le Gautier!' Maxwell exclaimed. 'He, an Italian officer! Why, he is at
present Head Centre of the Brotherhood in London. He and your brethren
are bosom friends. He was even present at the time when Luigi told us
your sad history. Surely he cannot know; and yet I trusted him too.
Signor Salvarini, you bewilder me.'

The outlaw laughed loud and long; but the mirth was strained, and
jarred harshly upon the listener. 'And that fiend is a friend of
Luigi's! Strange things happen in these times. Beware, Signor
Maxwell-beware of that man, for he will work you mischief yet. It was
by his orders you were arrested. He knows me by name, and as one of
the Brotherhood only, so I did his bidding.'

'Strange! And yet I have done him no harm.'

'Not that you are aware of, perhaps. Still, no doubt you have crossed
his path in some way. If I have a command in the morning to lead you
out yonder to face a dozen rifles, I shall not be surprised.'

'And you would countenance such murder?'

'This morning, yes. Now, I am doubtful. You are my brother's friend; I
am Le Gautier's enemy; I do not wish to help him.'

Three days passed uneventfully by, at the end of which time Maxwell had
become a great favourite with the outlaw band. Following the lead of
their chief, they treated him with every kindness; nor was he in his
turn inclined to resent his captivity or chafe at this delay. His chief
fear was for Enid; for Paulo Salvarini, though he was inclined to allow
his prisoner every latitude, was firm upon the point of communication
with the outer world; for, as he pointed out, he might after all be
guilty of some great treachery to the League, and in that case must be
answerable for anything that happened.

So the days passed on in that quiet spot, no further news coming to him
till the morning of the fourth day. Then he was sitting at the door
of his hut, watching the sunrise glowing on the distant hills, when
Salvarini approached him, his face perturbed, and his whole manner
agitated. 'You are in danger,' he whispered. 'The orders have come, and
you are proclaimed traitor. The men are mad against you, and declare
you shall be brought out for instant execution. Ah! you have only seen
the best side of their character; you have not seen them hungry for
blood.'

'Do they want to murder me?' Maxwell exclaimed. 'Cannot you'--

'I am powerless now,' Salvarini interrupted. 'I will do what I can; but
I fear nothing can save you now.'

'Do not be afraid,' said a calm voice behind. '_I_ shall save him!'

'Isodore!'

'Yes, Paulo Lucci; it is I.'

Maxwell looked up, and saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in
his life. For a moment he could only gaze in rapt astonishment. This,
then, was the Empress of the League-the woman Visci had mentioned,
whose lightest word could free his feet and clear his path for ever.

'You have come in time,' Salvarini said with a low obeisance. 'An hour
hence and our prisoner would have been no more.'

'I am always in time,' Isodore replied quietly.-'I have come to deliver
you from a great danger,' she continued, turning to Maxwell. 'Come; we
must be in Rome at once, and away, or we may yet be too late. Hark! Are
the wolves clamouring for their prey already? We shall see.'

It was light now, and from the plateau beyond came the hoarse yells
and cries for revenge from the brigands. On they came towards the hut,
clamouring for blood, and mad with the heat of passion. They rushed in,
seized Maxwell, and led him out on to the level grass, while six of
the party stepped back a few paces and cocked their rifles. The whole
thing was so sudden that Lucci and Isodore were totally unprepared to
resist. But the girl roused herself now, and quitting the hut, swept
across the open space and placed herself in front of Maxwell.

'Drop your arms!' she cried. 'Are you mad, that you do this thing?
Ground your rifles, or you shall pay dearly for this indignity.'

Appalled by her gestures and the dignity of her voice, the desperadoes
hesitated for a moment, and then one, more daring than the rest, raised
his carabine to the shoulder, standing in the act of firing.

'You may fire,' Isodore cried. 'Fire! and every hair of my head shall
be avenged for by a life! Fire! and then pray for the mercy of heaven,
for you shall not meet with any from the hand of man!'

The desperate men were amazed by this beauty and daring, the audacity
of which ap
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