ault, he but
increases it if he neglects to make reparation for it. Now, if I get
leave for you to accompany me on shore, will you follow my directions?"
We promised we would. "Well then, we will find out the owners of the
coach, and you must go and tell them that you are very sorry for the
mischief you committed, explain how it happened, and beg their pardon.
I do not think you can exactly offer to give them a new coach; nor would
they expect it, probably."

At this Dicky looked very blue; but he could not escape from his
promise, and he soon mustered a sufficiency of moral courage to carry
him through the work. I was, I own, very glad in being thus supported
in doing what I felt was right.

In the afternoon we went on shore, and set off at once to the scene of
our adventure: The fragments of the coach had been removed. Climbing up
the lane, we made inquiries at the top--at least Adam, who spoke
Italian, did--for any family from the country who might be stopping at a
house near at hand.

"Oh, you want Signora Faranelli, whose coach was run away with last
night by some ragamuffins!" said the master of a small shop where we
inquired.

"The same," answered Adam.

"She and her daughters are staying with Signor Bianconi at the big
house, there."

Adam led us to the house indicated.

"I feel in a great funk," whispered Dicky; "don't you, D'Arcy? What
shall we say?"

"The truth," said I. "It's the only thing we can say. Tell our tale
from beginning to end."

We sent in our cards, with a message to say that two naval officers
wished to speak to Signora Faranelli. Adam said he should wait outside
for us, and told us to make haste. We were speedily requested to walk
upstairs, and were ushered into a room full of company, when a very
pleasing, kind-looking lady came forward and inquired to what cause she
was indebted for the honour of our visit. As I knew Sharpe would make
some mistake, I had offered to act as spokesman, and at once told the
whole of our tale.

"Oh, it was very naughty in the carriage to run away with you," she
replied, in a good-natured tone, in somewhat broken English; "and it was
very stupid in my servants to leave it standing on the top of the hill,
though but natural that you, on a rainy night, should take shelter
within it. I had been told that it was purposely sent rolling down the
hill by a party of tipsy naval officers, and I was resolved to complain
of them; but the frank way i