Roman Bandits — The Count of Monte Cristo

Franz wakes first and rings for Signor Pastrini. The landlord arrives grinning. He has found a carriage for Carnival, but he warns the young men not to drive outside Rome's walls at night. The famous bandit Luigi Vampa controls the roads near the Colosseum. Albert laughs and talks about capturing Vampa for glory. Franz listens more carefully.

After dinner Pastrini sits down to tell them who Vampa really is. The bandit chief was once a shepherd boy named Luigi who taught himself to read and shoot. He loved a girl named Teresa. Pastrini also tells darker stories about older outlaws like Cucumetto. When Cucumetto seized a girl named Rita, her lover Carlini begged for mercy, then killed Rita himself rather than let the band share her. The bandits respected that terrible act.

Luigi and Teresa grew up tending flocks together. When soldiers hunted Cucumetto, Luigi hid him in a cave and refused reward money. At the Count of San-Felice's masked ball Teresa danced with noblemen and wished for a rich girl's dress. Jealous Luigi led her away. That night he set fire to the villa, stole jewels and clothes, and shot Cucumetto when the bandit tried to carry Teresa off. Dressed in stolen finery, Luigi walked into the mountains and asked the bandits to make him their new chief.

In Pastrini's tale, a lost traveller once paid Luigi with two gold coins and called himself Sinbad the Sailor. Franz startles at the name of his island host. Pastrini says Vampa still rules the countryside and names his ransom prices in cold detail. When the coach is ready, Albert still wants romance and danger. Franz orders the driver to take the city streets instead of the risky outer road. They roll toward the Colosseum with the bandit's story ringing in Franz's ears.