THE INN AT TERRACINA.
Crack! crack! crack! crack! crack!
"Here comes the estafette from Naples," said mine host of the inn at
Terracina, "bring out the relay."
The estafette came as usual galloping up the road, brandishing over his
head a short-handled whip, with a long knotted lash; every smack of
which made a report like a pistol. He was a tight square-set young
fellow, in the customary uniform - a smart blue coat, ornamented with
facings and gold lace, but so short behind as to reach scarcely below
his waistband, and cocked up not unlike the tail of a wren. A cocked
hat, edged with gold lace; a pair of stiff riding boots; but instead of
the usual leathern breeches he had a fragment of a pair of drawers that
scarcely furnished an apology for modesty to hide behind.
The estafette galloped up to the door and jumped from his horse.
"A glass of rosolio, a fresh horse, and a pair of breeches," said he,
"and quickly - I am behind my time, and must be off."
"San Genaro!" replied the host, "why, where hast thou left thy
garment?"
"Among the robbers between this and Fondi."
"What! rob an estafette! I never heard of such folly. What could they
hope to get from thee?"
"My leather breeches!" replied the estafette. "They were bran new, and
shone like gold, and hit the fancy of the captain."
"Well, these fellows grow worse and worse. To meddle with an estafette!
And that merely for the sake of a pair of leather breeches!"
The robbing of a government messenger seemed to strike the host with
More astonishment than any other enormity that had taken place on the
road; and indeed it was the first time so wanton an outrage had been
committed; the robbers generally taking care not to meddle with any
thing belonging to government.
The estafette was by this time equipped; for he had not lost an instant
in making his preparations while talking. The relay was ready: the
rosolio tossed off. He grasped the reins and the stirrup.
"Were there many robbers in the band?" said a handsome, dark young man,
stepping forward from the door of the inn.
"As formidable a band as ever I saw," said the estafette, springing
into the saddle.
"Are they cruel to travellers?" said a beautiful young Venetian lady,
who had been hanging on the gentleman's arm.
"Cruel, signora!" echoed the estafette, giving a glance at the lady as
he put spurs to his horse. "Corpo del Bacco! they stiletto all the
men, and as to the women - "
Crack! crack! crack! crack! crack! - the last words were drowned in the
smacking of the whip, and away galloped the estafette along the road to
the Pontine marshes.
"Holy Virgin!" ejaculated the fair Venetian, "what will become of us!"
The inn of Terracina stands just outside of the walls of the old town
of that name, on the frontiers of the Roman territory.
