to copy out the whole of this despatch,
Bella, and then I shall mark the passages--Where was I?"

"'British subject.'"

"Yes, I remember. 'Yet that, conceding much to the feelings '--no, that
is too familiar--'making allowances for an irritability--'"

"I don't think you can say that, Skeff. He has now been seven weeks in
confinement."

"'Lucky dog that he has not been seven weeks worked almost to a
skeleton, like me, with the cares of a whole nation on my head, and the
eyes of Europe upon me."

"Just let me say that you will look into his case, and do your best to
get him out of prison."

"With all my heart. It is fearfully undignified; but let it go, and I'll
send off a messenger to the Prefetto Lanzi to deliver up the prisoner
M'Gruder to me to-morrow morning, and we will interrogate him here."

The roll of a drum was now heard in the street without, and from the
balcony could be seen an immense crowd of people moving in front of an
infantry regiment, who marched past, travel-stained and disordered, and
with an indescribable something in their air that indicated, it might be
defeat, it might be disaffection.

"Here's strange news," said Sir Arthur, as he joined them. "The landlord
tells me Garibaldi has landed in Calabria, near Reggio, beaten the royal
troops, and is in full march on Naples. The regiment that you see there
were ordered off to reinforce the advanced guard, but cried out, 'Viva
Garibaldi!' and have been now recalled, and are to be sent into the
fortress."

"Look!" cried Skeff; "here comes the Artillery after them, a strong
proof that they don't trust these fellows. Bella, I must write off the
news at once."

"Let me first finish about M'Gruder," said she, as she sat down to the
table.

"I wish we were all safe back in England," said Lady Lyle, as she came
up.

"I was just thinking the very same thing," said Sir Arthur.

"Have no fears," interposed Skeffy; "I shall order up the fleet from
Malta. You shall have a frigate--a line-of-battle ship, if you like it
better."

"I'd much rather we had post-horses and an escort," said Lady Lyle.

"Would that be possible, Darner?"

"All is possible, Sir Arthur, to power properly exercised. I 'll go down
at once to the War Office, and see what can be done."

"If it were perfectly safe," said Bella, "I should like to drive through
the streets and see what is going on; and as Alice refuses to go out,
we are just enough for one carriage." The pro