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“And then, signor,” continued the bandit, “how can I help it? No one can, in
an instant, give up a habit of three years. The mountain air is strange and
mighty; once having inhaled it, you suffocate in any other atmosphere. A little
while ago, while in those miserable houses, I thought every moment that the roof
would have fallen on my head.”

“But,” said I, “are you not going now to resume your former mode of life I
understand that you have a house, a field, and a vineyard.”

“Yes—I have; but my sister took care of my house, and the Luquois were there
to cultivate my field and vineyard. We Corsicans never work.”

“What is then your occupation?”

“We superintend the laborers; we walk about with a gun on our shoulders, and
go hunting.”

“Well, my dear Signor Orlandini,” said I, shaking hands with him, “good luck!
Remember that my honor, as well as yours, is solemnly pledged for your not
shooting in future at any thing else than moufflons, deer, boars, pheasants and
partridges, but never at Marco-Vincenzio Colonna, nor at any of his family or
friends!”

“Ah! eccellenza,” replied he, with an expression of physiognomy which I had
never seen before, but on the face of a Norman litigant, “the hen which he
returned me was a very poor one!”

And without uttering another word he returned to the thicket, and immediately
disappeared.

I continued my road, making some reflections upon this, as a probable reason
for a new rupture between the Orlandini and the Colonna.

The same evening I slept at Albiteccia. The next day I arrived at Ajaccio.
Eight days after, I reached Paris.

CHAPTER VIII

The very evening I arrived, I went to visit Monsieur Louis de Franchi; he had
gone out.

I left my card, with a line informing him that I had arrived direct from
Sullacaro, and that I was the bearer of a letter for him from his brother
Lucien. I requested him to name his time, adding that I had pledged my word to
deliver this letter personally.

In conducting me to the cabinet of his master, where I had to write this
note, the servant led me through the dining room and parlor. I gazed round with
a curiosity which every one will easily understand. I recognized the same tastes
which I had already noticed at Sullacaro, only they were more refined by
Parisian elegance. Monsieur de Franchi appeared to have a delightful bachelor
residence.

The following day, while I was dressing, that is to say, about eleven o’clock
in the morning, my servant announced Monsieur de Franchi. I gave orders to have
him ushered into the salon, to offer him the papers, and inform him that in a
moment I would be at his service. Indeed, in five minutes after, I entered the
salon.

At the noise which I made, Monsieur de Franchi, who, no doubt out of
courtesy, was reading one of my feuilletons, published at that time in the
papers, raised his head.

I remained petrified with his resemblance to his brother.

He rose.

“Monsieur,” said he, “I could hardly believe in my good fortune yesterday,
while reading the little note which my servant handed me when I came home. I
made him repeat the description of your person ten times, in order to ascertain
if it corresponded with your portraits. At last, this morning in my double
impatience to thank you, and to receive news from my family, I have introduced
myself here, without having consulted the hour much; I am therefore afraid I
have been too early.”

“I beg your pardon,” replied I, “for not answering your agreeable compliment
at first; but I declare, that looking at you, I have to ask myself if it is to
Monsieur Louis or to Monsieur Lucien de Franchi that I have the honor of
addressing myself.”

“Yes, in truth, the resemblance is great,” continued he, smiling, “and when I
was at Sullacaro, my brother and myself were the only persons who did not
mistake us. However, since I left, he has not abandoned his Corsican habits; you
must have seen him constantly in a dress which produces some difference between
us.”