瓦尔迪母亲要杀死费雷尔的想法遭到瓦尔迪的反对，他为了女儿塔托今后能过上体面的生活不愿再杀戮。事后，气急败坏的老婆子挟持了塔托，要把她扔进无底深坑，在千钧一发之际，费雷尔扣动了枪的扳机……
They met an hour later at luncheon，all but the Duchessa，who sulked in her garden.Tato was bright and smiling，filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be digni？ed and sedatea.When her hand stole under the table to ？nd and press that of her father，Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly；for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
The Duke，however，was more sombre than usual.Hehad defied his mother，successfully，so far；but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato，because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetratedb in years gone by.Only once had a proposed victim escaped her，and that was when her own daughter Bianca had fallen in love with an American held for ransom and spirited him away from the valley through knowledge of the secret passage.It was well Bianca had ？ed with her lover；otherwise her mother would surely have killed her.But afterward，when the girl returned to die in the old home，all was forgiven，and only the hatred of her foreign husband，whose cruelty had driven her back to Sicily，remained to ranklec in the old Duchessa's wicked heart.
No one knew her evil nature better than her son.He entertained a suspicion that he had not conquered her by his recent opposition to her will.Indeed，he would never havedared to brave her anger except for Tato's sake.Tato was his idol，and in her defense the cowardly brigand had for the moment become bold.
Tato laughed and chatted with Uncle John all through the meal，even trying at times to cheer the dolefula Ferralti，who was nearly as glum and unsociable as her father.The servants and brigands at the lower end of the table looked upon the little one admiringly.It was evident she was a general favorite.
On the porch，after luncheon，the Duke broachedb thesubject of the ransoms again，still maintaining the fable of selling his antique jewelry.
"Sir，"said Uncle John，"I'm going to submit gracefully，butupon one condition."The Duke scowled.
"I allow no conditions，"he said.
"You'd better allow this one，"Uncle John replied，"because it will make it easier for all of us.Of my own free will and accord I will make a present to Tato of ？fty thousand dollars，and she shall have it for her dowry when she marries."Tato clapped her hands.
"How did you know I am a girl，when I wear boys'clothes ？"she asked.
Even the duke smiled，at that，but the next moment heshook his head solemnly.
"It will not do，signore，"he declared，answering UncleJohn's proposition."This is a business affair altogether.You must purchase the ring，and at once."The little American sighed.It had been his last hope."Very well，"he said；"have your own way.""You will send to your friends for the money？""Whenever you say，Duke.You've got me in a hole，andI must wiggle out the best way I can."The brigand turned to Ferralti."And you，signore？"he asked.
"I do not know whether I can get the money you demand.""But you will make the attempt，as I shall direct？""Yes.""Then，signori，it is all ？nished.In a brief time you willleave my hospitable roof.""The sooner the better，"declared Ferralti.
They sat for a time in silence，each busy with his thoughts."Go to your grandmother，Tato，"said the Duke，"andtry to make your peace with her.If she is too angry，do not remain.To—morrow you must go into town with letters from these gentlemen to their friends."The child kissed him and went obediently to do his will.Then the brigand spoke to Tommaso，who brought writing material from the house and placed it upon a small table.
Uncle John，without further demura，sat down to write.
The Duke dictated what he should say，although he wasallowed to express the words in his own characteristic style，and he followed his instructions implicitly，secretly admiring the shrewdness of the brigand's methods.