Mezzoni the Brigand — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. 65 was not so easily met, except by paying the ransom. Indeed, after looking at the case in every possible light, this was at last conceded to be the only plan to pursue. : Colonel Bray’s daughter had been permitted to send him a letter in reply to the one he wrote to her just as he was about to leave Naples, and this had brought comforting assurance.to the father, so far as the immediate safety of his child was concerned. The letter ran as follows: ‘“‘DEAR HF ATHER :—I am permitted to say that I have received your kind letter, written just as you were about to start for England. I am made as comfort- able as possible here under the circumstances, and have a very respectful and kind peasant woman to wait upon me. Iam satisfied that no personal harm is intended or will be permitted in my instance, but also that the payment of the ransom is the only pos- sible means of effecting my release. I hope that you will not worry too much about me, but yet I cannot say how earnestly I desire to be released from this isolation and trying confinement. That Heaven may bless and keep you, my dear father, is the con- stant prayer of your fond child. MARION.”’ This letter, after it had passed through the hands of their chief, the brigands forwarded, and it was received, as we have said, by the colonel. He saw at once that his child had not been persuaded to write by the robbers, and prompted to send such words as should harrow up his feelings. He divined’ from the missive that the banditti felt quite assured in their position, and were content to abide the lapse of the time specified to him at the outset. The house of Woolf & Co., whose store had been robbed so systematically, as described in our second. - chapter, was not disposed to sit down patiently under their heavy loss without making a strenuous effort Eomicbooks (ele)