ews that Francis had returned; and when they came back
from the palace they found Giulia anxiously expecting them, and a few
minutes later Matteo arrived with his brother Rufino, and Maria. The
latter was far more effusive in her greeting of Francis than Giulia had
been.

"Matteo has been telling us all about it, Francis, and that he, and
everyone else, owed their escape from the dungeons of Genoa entirely to
your cleverness."

"Not so much to his cleverness, Maria," Matteo corrected, "although he
is wonderful in inventing things, but to his energy, determination, and
steadfastness. There was not one of us but regarded a visit to the
dungeons of Genoa as a foregone conclusion, and when Francis spoke of
our recapturing the Pluto, as if it were the easiest and most natural
thing in the world, it was as much as we could do not to laugh in his
face. However, he set about it as quietly and calmly as if he were
carrying on the regular work of a ship. We gradually caught some of his
spirit, and when we began to see that there was a method in his
madness, did our best to carry out his orders."

"It is wonderful," Maria said; "and do you know, Francisco, that when
we first knew you, after you had rescued us from the attack on the
canal, I absolutely thought that, though you were brave and
straightforward and honourable, yet that by the side of our own people
of your age, you were rather stupid, and ever since then I have been
learning how mistaken I was."

Francis laughed.

"I think your estimate of me was correct enough," he said. "You see
people are often stupid one way, and sharp another. Matteo will tell
you I was far behind most of those in the seminary in learning lessons,
and certainly when it came to talking, and bandying jokes, I had no
chance at all. I suppose that every lady I have ever spoken to, when I
have been with you at entertainments, has thought me exceptionally
stupid; and I am sure I am, in most things, only I suppose I have got a
fair share of common sense, and a habit of thinking for myself. There
was no cleverness at all in anything that Matteo is telling you of.

"It was just the same here as it was when I was in that cell near
Tunis. I wanted to get out. I supposed there must be some way out, if I
could but discover it, and so I sat down to think how it was to be
done; and of course, after trying in my mind every possible scheme, I
hit upon the right one. There certainly was nothing clever in tha