"'But you might at least begin informing me?'
"'Yes, I may tell you something. It is a society—secret and powerful. Those who do not love it, fear it. It has influence everywhere. It brought you here. It will arrange you your release to-morrow, by withdrawing the charge against you. A companion will meet you at the prison gate. Do as he bids you.'
"'But the object of the society? The purposes to which it devotes the great sums of money which——'
"'Hush! It is of that that I must not inform you yet. You know, at least, that it is better to be the friend of the Camorra than its enemy.'
"And that, at any rate, was clearly true. Can you blame me if, knowing that, and desiring my release, I agreed to join the society even without a full knowledge of its objects? Can you blame me if I further felt that loyalty bound me to be obedient to the behests of the companion who was to await me at the gate? This time I had to do with a Camorrista dressed as a gentleman.
"'You are the new companion?' he asked me, when I came out.
"'I am the new companion, Jean Antoine Stromboli Kosnapulski,' I replied.
"'I was expecting you,' he said.
"'It is very kind of you,' I answered. 'Perhaps you will add to your kindness by informing me what are the political objects of this interesting society in which I have enrolled myself.'
"'Hush!' he said. 'At present I am only permitted to inform you of the duties which you are to discharge.'