two hours after midnight
Fancy him on a mountain height , among wild rocks and rugged oaks , leaning on his carbine as if meditating some exploit , while far below are beheld villages and villas , the scenes of his maraudings , with the wide Campagna dimly extending in the distance . The robber was pleased with the sketch , and seemed to admire himself upon paper . I had scarcely finished , when the laborer arrived who had been sent for my ransom . He had reached Tusculum two hours after midnight . He brought me a letter from the prince , who was in bed at the time of his arrival . As I had predicted , he treated the demand as extravagant , but offered five hundred dollars for my ransom . Having no money by him at the moment , he had sent a note for the amount , payable to whomever should conduct me safe and sound to Rome .