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Updated: June 9, 2025
Colonel Neri explained it to Norvin, as he rode in to San Sebastiano after thirty-six hours in the saddle. "It is this accursed Sicilian Mafia," he growled. "The common people are shocked, horrified, sympathetic, and yet they fear to show their true feelings. They dare not tell what they know.
But I regret to say it, signorini it is a reflection upon our advanced civilization and the good name of our people but sometimes a man who is rich disappears for a time, and no one knows how it is, or where he may be. He always returns; but then he is not so rich." "I understand. My uncle is captured by brigands, you think." "There are no brigands, signorina." "Or the Mafia, then."
"There's a big secret society in Sicily called 'The Mafia," vouchsafed Carmel. "Then let us call ours 'The Chilcombe Mafia. No one will understand what we mean, even if they get hold of the name. Indeed I shouldn't mind casually mentioning it now and then, just to puzzle them. When things get bad, 'The Mafia' will take them up." "Strike secretly and suddenly!" agreed Dulcie with a chuckle.
"In our own New Orleans we are beginning to talk of the Mafia, but with us it is a mysterious organization of Italian criminals. We treat it as somewhat of a joke." "Be not so sure. Some day it may dominate your American cities as it does all Sicily." "Still I don't understand.
Historically the Mafia burst from a soil fertilized by the blood of martyred patriots, and represented the revolt of the people against all forms of the tyrannous government of the Bourbons; but the fact remains that, whatever its origin, the Mafia to-day is a criminal organization, having, like the Camorra, for its ultimate object blackmail and extortion.
"Then, as you know, this banker is a fighter. He is the man who organized the White Hand an organization which is trying to rid the Italian population of the Black Hand. His society had a lot of evidence regarding former members of both the Camorra in Naples and the Mafia in Sicily, as well as the Black Hand gangs in New York, Chicago, and other cities.
The members of the Mafia, well stocked therefore with the apples and chestnuts necessary for divination, remained in their schoolroom after evening preparation, so as to have a gay time all to themselves. To make matters more thrillsome they turned out the light, and sat in the flickering glow of the fire.
I assure you the country is perfectionly safe especial if you stay within the town or take me on your drives. They know me, signore, and even Il Duca dares not trifle with my friends." "Why should he, Frascatti, if there is no brigandage? Is it the Mafia?" "Ah, I have heard that Mafia spoken of, but mostly when I lived in America, which is Chicago. Here we do not know of the Mafia."
La Mafia taxes us with blackmail, it saddles us with a great force of carabinieri, it gives food and drink and life to men like Belisario Cardi. Every landholder, every man of property, contributes to its support. You still do not understand, but you will as I go along.
At last, when she had thanked him in as many ways as she could think of for his kindness and the time drew near for him to leave, she fell serious in a most abrupt manner, and then to his great surprise referred once again to his affair with the Mafia. "It seems to me that my joy would be supreme to-night if I knew you would drop that Italian matter," she said.
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