The Count of Monte Cristo

第三十三章 Roman Bandits

Chapter 33. Roman Bandits introduces the travelers’ struggle to secure Carnival transportation in Rome, their sightseeing of St. Peter’s and the Colosseum, and Signor Pastrini’s alarming warning about the bandit Luigi Vampa, whose origin story unfolds from humble shepherd origins to feared outlaw.

Carnival Carriage Negotiation with Signor Pastrini

Franz and Albert negotiate with Signor Pastrini for a carriage during the Carnival, finding that all vehicles are reserved. After haggling, Franz secures a hackney carriage for twelve piastres per day, and it arrives within an hour, much to their relief.

Sightseeing Plans for St. Peter’s and the Colosseum

The two young men devote the entire day to visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, then plan to see the Colosseum by moonlight. Franz arranges a route that exits through the Porta del Popolo and re-enters through the Porta San Giovanni, deliberately avoiding the Capitol and Forum to heighten the Colosseum’s dramatic impact.

Warning of Bandit Luigi Vampa’s Route Danger

At dinner, Signor Pastrini warns the travelers that their proposed nighttime route is extremely dangerous due to the notorious bandit Luigi Vampa, who controls the area outside Rome’s gates. Albert jokingly suggests arming themselves and capturing Vampa, but Franz and Pastrini insist that resistance against bandits is futile and foolhardy.

Luigi Vampa’s Childhood and Self-Taught Education

Pastrini recounts Luigi Vampa’s childhood as a shepherd-boy born in Pampinara and employed by the Count of San-Felice. Displaying remarkable precocity, seven-year-old Luigi begged the curate of Palestrina to teach him to read, meeting daily for short lessons. He subsequently taught himself to write using a sharpened nail as a stylus on slate pieces, astonishing the curate and earning the Count’s patronage, two piastres a month, and access to books, pens, and carving tools.