customary manner of the Italians.

Clinch, for it was he, scouring the shore in quest of the lugger, on his
way back to the Proserpine, gave a growl when he found that he must
speak in a foreign tongue, if he would continue the discourse; then he
mustered all the Italian of which he was master for the occasion. Having
cruised long on the station, this was sufficient, however, for his
present purpose.

"Is that a boat from Massa or from Capri?" he inquired.

"Neither, S'nore," answered Raoul, afraid to trust Carlo's conscience
with the management of such a dialogue. "We come round the cape, from
St. Agata, and carry figs to Napoli."

"St. Agata, aye, that is the village on the heights; I passed a night
there myself, in the house of one Maria Giuntotardi--"

"Who can this be?" murmured Ghita--"my aunt knows no forestieri!"

"An Inglese, by his thick speech and accent. I hope he will not ask for
figs for his supper!"

Clinch was thinking of other things at that moment; and when he
continued, it was to follow the train of his own thoughts.

"Have you seen anything of a barone-looking lugger," he asked,
"French-rigged, and French-manned, skulking anywhere about this coast?"

"_Si_--she went north, into the Gulf of Gaeta, just as the sun was
setting, and is, no doubt, gone to anchor under the cannon of her
countrymen."

"If she has, she'll find herself in hot water," answered Clinch, in
English. "We've craft enough up there, to hoist her in and dub her down
to a jolly-boat's size, in a single watch. Did you see anything of a
frigate this evening, near the Point of Campanella? An Inglese, I mean;
a tight six-and-thirty, with three new topsails."

"_Si_--the light you see here, just in a range with Capri, is at her
gaff; we have seen her the whole afternoon and evening. In fact, she
towed us kindly round the cape, until we got fairly into this Bay."

"Then you are the people for me? Was there a man hanged on board her or
not, about sunset?"

This question was put with so much interest, that Raoul cursed his
interrogator in his heart; imagining that he was burning with the wish
to learn his own execution. He was also now aware that this was he boat
which had left the Proserpine about noon.

"I can tell you there was not, s'nore--if that will gladden your heart.
A man was all _ready_ to be hanged, when Captain Cuffe was pleased to
order him taken down."

"Just as three heavy guns were fired up at town--was it no