Welcome back everyone to to 1001 Stories for the Road,

and the second half of chapter 33 of the Count of Monte Cristo.

This chapter titled The Roman Bandits,

and I'm going to review the first half so we can introduce

you to the second half. This is a long chapter. At the beginning of chapter 33, Franz and

Albert rise the next morning, frustrated that they cannot order a carriage in Rome for the last

three days of the carnival, the most important of the holiday. And we can mention that Franz and

Albert's tour of the Coliseum is understood by the two men and by Pastrini, a hotel owner that they

are going to meet, to be an absolutely necessary part of any gentleman's time in Rome. The hotel owner

objects not to their visit, but to the timing of the visit,

which he feels will mean no one can protect the two men from bandits. But it is banditry

and adventure that Franz and Elbe have come to Italy to find, and Albert in particular is not

so worried about the possible presence of exotic, seeming Italian thieves.

After a gentlemanly argument with Pastrini, the two managed to secure a carriage for the next

couple days before the end of the festival, although the rate is very high, and Pastrini

pockets the difference. Franz and Albert set off on a tour of St. Peter's and they returned

that evening,

bowing to take in the Coliseum, by Moonlight, the most romantic time in which to view it.

At this Pastrini snorts and says they cannot possibly view the Coliseum then,

because the Roman bandits will be out at night trying to rob them,

especially one 22-year-old bandit, the most famous in the city, named Luigi Vampa.

Albert says that he would try to fight Vampa if he could, but Pasterini warns him not to joke about

...