Mezzoni the Brigand — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

a a - me as ~ fee it AY op SRS ‘ MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. 59 ‘You are right. The jar is his bank.”’ And thus the golden and inexhaustible jar was being constantly brought to mind. The Church even had considered the matter, and finally came to believe a story so frequently re- peated, and had made bold to solicit a fraction for the use of the religious institutions; but Alberto dis- missed these applications so coolly that they were not repeated. With such a treasure to draw from,’’ said one of the priests, ‘‘one would suppose you could afford to give a trifle to the Church.”’ ‘“What treasure?’’ asked Alberto, sternly. “Why, the jar of gold.”’ “‘Ah, yes; but even that jar has a bottom.”’ ‘One might doubt it.’’ ‘“How so?”’? demanded Alberto. “Judging from your lavishness at the gaming table. ’’ ‘‘Hence,”’ said Alberto, pointing to the door. “Only the guilty are sensitive to reproach,”’ said the priest. “Your sacred garments and calling alone preserve you from a thrashing,”’ was the reply. The last representative of the Corrello family was no more solicited in behalf of the Church, although his ancestors had ever been its firm supporters. His olaring inconsistencies were the talk of the gossips; his moods, as variable as the wind, served them as ready themes, and both his gains and losses at play were magnified beyond all reason by the tongue of rumor. | Once or twice, Beppo, the man-servant who at- tended upon Alberto, was importuned relative to that jar of gold, but he could give no positive infor- GEomicboo SS) (Efe)