He pressed a spring, and the exquisite chimes of the watch spoke in the stillness like the bells of a fairy church.
"And this," he said, "was a present from my mother, who is dead."
The three brigands crossed themselves, and expressed the regrets which good-breeding required of them. The one that had been the last to help himself to a cigarette now returned the case to Asabri, with a bow and a mumbling of thanks.
"What a jolly life you lead," exclaimed the banker. "Tell me, you have had some good hauls lately? What?"
The oldest of the three, a dark, taciturn youth, answered, "The gentleman is a great joker."
"Believe me," said Asabri, "it is from habit--not from the heart. When I rode out from Rome to-day, it was with the intention never to return. When I came upon you and saw your long guns and suspected your profession in life, I said: 'Good! Perhaps these young men will murder me for my watch and cigarette case and the loose silver in my breeches pocket, and save me a world of trouble----'"
The three brigands protested that nothing had ever been farther from their thoughts.
"Instead of which," he went on, "you have fed me and put heart in me. I shall return to Rome in the morning and face whatever music my own infatuated foolishness has set going. Do you understand anything of finance?"
He said that he had had one once; but that the priest had touched it with a holy relic and it had gone away. "It was on the back of my neck," he said.
"I should have said banking," said he, "stocks and bonds."
The brigands admitted that they knew nothing of these things. Asabri sighed.
"Two months ago," he said, "I was a rich man. To-day I have nothing. In a few days it will be known that I have nothing; and then, my friends--the deluge. Such is finance. From great beginnings, lame endings. And yet the converse may be true. I have seen great endings come of small beginnings. Even now there is a chance for a man with a little capital...."
"Oh," he cried, "if I could touch even five thousand lire I could retrieve my own fortunes and make the fortunes of whomsoever advanced me the money."
The sullen brigand had been doing a sum on his fingers.
"Oh," said Asabri, "it is very simple! I should buy certain stocks, which owing to certain conditions are very cheap, and I should sell them very dear. You have heard of America?"