Mezzoni the Brigand — page 168: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

160 MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. the spot from the jailer, who had been surprised in bed, to a certain cell, and in five minutes the count- ess was outside of the building, mounted on an easy but swift horse, and the party rode away at full speed. Not until the guards were relieved, an hour later, was the escape discovered, when the men were un- tied and the gags taken from their mouths, while the jailer was released from a similar condition. Com- plicity was not charged upon these delinquents, but stupidity and neglect were, for which they were pun- ished. It would seem almost incredible that such an act could be performed, yet these were the facts. The authorities had no means of knowing of a cer- tain golden fee which had made all comparatively easy. | Here was a fresh theme for the gossips, and more rewards were offered for the arrest of the guilty parties. Gomicboo a (S.com.