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.