Chapter 33.

Franz and Albert learn from Signor Pastrini that no carriages can be had for the last three days of Carnival, though he procures one for the interim after hard bargaining. They spend the day at Saint Peter’s and plan to see the Colosseum by moonlight, dining first.

Pastrini interrupts to warn that their intended night route outside the walls is dangerous due to the feared bandit Luigi Vampa. Albert mocks the threat; Franz listens. Prompted, Pastrini begins Vampa’s history.

Luigi Vampa, a precocious shepherd in San-Felice’s service, teaches himself to read and write, excels with a rifle, and loves Teresa, a coquettish orphan. Tales of the brutal chief Cucumetto (including Carlini’s tragic slaying of his violated lover Rita and Cucumetto’s treachery) frame the local bandit world.

Vampa hides Cucumetto from carbineers and refuses a reward, impressing the chief. At a San-Felice masked ball, Teresa dances with a noble, arousing Vampa’s jealousy. That night a fire breaks out; an unknown peasant rescues Carmela. The next day Vampa surprises Teresa with a noble costume hidden in their grotto.

While Teresa dresses, a traveller—calling himself “Sinbad the Sailor”—receives directions from Vampa and gifts him sequins; Vampa gives him a carved dagger. Vampa then hears Teresa’s cries and fatally shoots her abductor—Cucumetto—who had seized her. Donning the dead chief’s finery, Vampa leads Teresa into the mountains and confronts the band. He claims Cucumetto’s death and the villa arson for Teresa’s dress, and is elected captain.

Returning to the present, Pastrini explains Vampa’s roaming network and deadly ransom deadlines. Faced with the risk, Franz orders the carriage to the Colosseum by the city streets; Albert needles him about courage as they depart.