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LIFE OF COLONEL MACERONI.

tion of them. I entered the house with my friend. Hismother threw herself upon his neck, then upon mine ; shehad just that minute seen the other party waiting, and hereldest son was not yet come home. We sat down to supper,and we persuaded her that she had evidently nothing moreto fear from the Corsicans, who were not such fools as torun the risk of being shot or stabbed by us first, and thenhanged afterwards in due course of law. After supper, Itook my leave, and was returning home, when, in the greatsquare before the Royal Palace, I heard a stentorian voicecall out, “ Maceroni siamo amici che ti vogliano parlare!—Sull’onore siamo amici!”*' Upon this I stopped, andpreparing my arms, turned towards the voice, andsaw the gigantic figure of Carabelli advancing towards mewaving a white handkerchief in his hand. His comradeswere at a distance, and he came up to me, who waited toreceive him. He stretched forth his hand in offer of acordial salute, but I declined receiving it, and said, that Icould never take the hand that was prepared to wield theweapon of an assassin. “ I never intended to be one,” criedCarabelli. “ Then you have played the part of one to admi-ration,” answered I, “and run the risk of meeting with aruffian’s fate; for, had you crossed the street towards usjust now, a brace of you, at least, would instantly have beenkilled.” This seemed to startle him, on which I showedhim my beautiful English double-barrelled pistol and myblades. A friendly tone was now established, and the con-versation had for its object to inform me that GeneralCataneo would not liberate his wife from the castle of SantElmo, and allow her to appear in public, unless PeterRambaud was removed from Naples. To this I made reply,that, as far as my influence could go, my friend should not

* “ Maceroni we are friends who wish to speak with you !—On ourhonour we are friends!”