of the first empire, and briefly threw off a spirited
description of the disastrous consequences of the connection with
France, and the passing estrangement from Great Britain. By this time,
what between the difficulties of a foreign tongue, and a period with
which the poor parson was not, historically, over conversant, he was
completely mystified and bewildered. At last the great functionary
condescended to become practical. He proceeded to narrate that
an English sailor, who had been landed at Ragusa by some Greek
coasting-vessel, had come over on foot to Cat-taro to find his consul as
a means of obtaining assistance to reach England. There were, however,
suspicious circumstances about the man that warranted the police in
arresting him and carrying him off to prison. First of all, he was
very poor, almost in rags, and emaciated to a degree little short of
starvation. These were signs that vouched little for a man's character;
indeed, the Podesta thought them damaging in the last degree; but there
were others still worse. There were marks on his wrists and ankles which
showed he had lately worn manacles and fetters--unmistakable marks:
marks which the practised eye of gendarmes had declared must have been
produced by the heavy chains worn by galley-slaves, so that the man was,
without doubt, an escaped convict, and might be, in consequence, a very
dangerous individual.

As the prisoner spoke neither Italian nor German, there was no means of
interrogating him. They had therefore limited themselves to taking
him into custody, and now held him at the disposal of the consular
authority, to deal with him as it might please.

"May I see him?" asked L'Estrange.

"By all means; he is here. We have had him brought from the prison
awaiting your Excellency's arrival. Perhaps you would like to have him
handcuffed before he is introduced. The brigadier recommends it."

"No, no. If the poor creature be in the condition you tell me, he
cannot be dangerous." And the stalwart curate threw a downward look at
his own brawny proportions with a satisfied smile that did not show much
fear.

The brigadier whispered something in the Podesta's ear in a low tone,
and the great man then said aloud--"He tells me that he could slip the
handcuffs on him now quite easily, for the prisoner is sound asleep, and
so overcome by fatigue that he hears nothing."

"No, no," reiterated L'Estrange. "Let us have no hand-cuffs; and with
your good permiss