He mentioned the affair to a judge of his acquaintance, who at once told him to set his mind at rest, adding,

“Pass through the Forum again to-morrow.  Ask for Antonio; anybody will point him out to you; tell him you come from me, and mention what you have lost.  He will put you in the way of getting it back.”

Berti did as he was desired; Antonio was soon found.  He smiled meaningly when the judge’s name was mentioned, protested that he could refuse him nothing, and immediately called out, “Eh!  Giacomo!”

Another bandit came out of the ruins, and ran up to his chief.

“Who was on duty yesterday?” asked Antonio.

“Pepe.”

“Is he here?”

“No, he made a good day of it yesterday.  He’s drinking it out.”

“I can do nothing for your Excellency to-day,” said Antonio.  “Come here to-morrow at the same hour, and I think you’ll have reason to be satisfied.”

Berti was punctual to the appointment.  Signor Antonio, for fear of being swindled, asked for an accurate description of the missing article.  This having been given, he at once produced the snuff-box.  “Your Excellency will please to pay me two scudi,” he said; “I should have charged you four, but that you are recommended to me by a magistrate whom I particularly esteem.”

It would appear that all the Roman magistrates are not equally estimable; at least to judge from what happened to the Marquis de Sesmaisons.  He was robbed of half-a-dozen silver spoons and forks.  He imprudently lodged a complaint with the authorities.  Being asked for an exact description of the stolen articles, he sent the remaining half-dozen to speak for themselves to the magistrate who had charge of the affair.  It is chronicled that he never again saw either the first or the second half-dozen!

The malversations of public functionaries are tolerated so long as they do not directly touch the higher powers.  Officials of every degree hold out their hands for a present.  The Government rather encourages the system than the reverse.  It is just so much knocked off the salaries.

The Government even overlooks embezzlement of public money, provided the guilty party be an ecclesiastic, or well affected to the present order of things.  The errors of friends are judged en famille.  If a Prelate make a mistake, he is reprimanded, and dismissed, which means that his situation is changed for a better one.

Monsignor N——­ gets the holy house of Loretto into financial trouble.  The consequence is that Monsignor N——­ is removed to Rome, and placed at the head of the hospital of the Santo Spirito.  Probably this is done because the latter establishment is richer and more difficult to get into financial trouble than the holy house of Loretto.

Monsignor A——­ was an Auditor of the Rota, and made a bad judge.  He was made a Prefect of Bologna.  He failed to give satisfaction at Bologna, and was made a Minister, and still remains so.