Mezzoni the Brigand — page 65: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. ov three generations, the time expiring, according to the story, just as Alberto came into possession. When it was opened by Alberto it was found to con- tain untold wealth in the shape of gold and precious stones. This story was Aladdin-like to a degree, just suited to the taste of the Neapolitan gossips, and so was eagerly seized upon and retailed everywhere. It was not exactly known who first started this story, but it was universally believed, and when on one occasion Alberto himself had been appealed to as to the truth, or otherwise, of the tale, he said, sig- nificantly, that family matters were hardly a fit sub- ject for public discussion, yet he seemed for some reason to take good care not to deny the truth of the story. Indeed, to those who had heard his reply he had conveyed the impression that there was a de- cided foundation of fact in the report. And thus fresh impetus was given to the queer story. In speaking of Alberto Corrello it came to be a frequent thing in Naples, in reference to the story of the jar of gold, to say: ‘‘T wish I had Corrello’s jar of gold.”’ ‘‘Now Corrello with his jar of gold might do thus and so.”’ “If I had Corrello’s jar I would help you.” ‘‘Go to Corrello with his jar of gold,’’ and similar applications of the idea. | It thus became the universal belief that this repre- sentative of the old family had in this store of gold and precious stones a never-failing source to draw upon whenever his purse needed replenishing. That jar was quite as inexhaustible as Fortunatus’ purse, and far more tangible, as the aggregated wealth Eomichbooks Cor