to the health. The stranger, however, both eat and drank sparingly, for, while he affected to join cordially in the discourse and the business of restoration, he greatly desired to be at liberty to pursue his own designs. Andrea Barrofaldi did not let so excellent an opportunity to show his acquirements to the podestâ go by neglected. He talked much of England, its history, its religion, government, laws, climate, and industry; making frequent appeals to the Capitano Smees for the truth of his opinions. In most cases the parties agreed surprisingly, for the stranger started with a deliberate intention to assent to everything; but even this compliant temper had its embarrassments, since the vice-governatore so put his interrogatories as occasionally to give to acquiescence the appearance of dissent. The other floundered through his difficulties tolerably well, notwithstanding; and so successful was he, in particular, in flattering Andrea's self-love by expressions of astonishment that a foreigner should understand his own country so well -better, indeed, in many respects, than he understood it himself and that he should be so familiar with its habits, institutions and geography, that, by the time the flask was emptied, the superior functionary whispered to his inferior, that the stranger manifested so much information and good sense, he should not be surprised if he turned out, in the long run, to be some secret agent of the British government, employed to make philosophical inquiries as to the trade and navigation of Italy, with a view to improve the business relations between the two countries. “You are an admirer of nobility, and a devotee of aristo. cracy," added Andrea Barrofaldi, in pursuit of the subject then in hand; "if the truth were known, a scion of some noble house, yourself, Signore ?" "I? Peste! I hate an aristocrat, Signor Vice-gover natore, as I do the devil!" This was said just after the freest draught the stranger had taken, and with an unguarded warmth that he himself .mmediately regretted. it is "This is extraordinary, in an Inglese! Ah-I see how you are in the opposizione, and find it necessary to say this. It is most extraordinary, good Vito Viti, that these Inglese are divided into two political castes, that contradict each other in everything. If one maintains that an object is white, the other side swears it is black; and so vice versâ. Both parties profess to love their country better than any. thing else; but the one that is out of power abuses even power itself, until it falls into its own hands." "This is so much like Giorgio Grondi's course towards me, Signore, that I could almost swear he was one of these very opposizione! I never approve of a thing that he does not condemn, or condemn, that he does not approve. Do you confess this much, Signor Capitano?" "Il vice-governatore knows us better than we know ourselves, I fear. There is too much truth in his account of our politics; but, Signori," rising from his chair, “I now crave your permission to look at your town, and to return to my vessel. The darkness has come, and discipline must be observed." As Andrea Barrofaldi had pretty well exhausted his stores of knowledge, no opposition was made; and, returning his thanks, the stranger took his departure, leaving the two functionaries to discuss his appearance and character over the remainder of the flask. CHAPTER III. There's Jonathan, that lucky lad, 14,763d verse of Yankee Doodle. IL CAPITANO SMEET' was not sorry to get out of the government-house-palazzo, as some of the simple people of Elba called the unambitious dwelling. He had been well badgered by the persevering erudition of the vice-governatore; and, stored as he was with nautical anecdotes, and a tolerable personal acquaintance with sundry sea-ports, for any expected occasion of this sort, he had never anticipated a conversation which would aspire as high as the institutions. religion and laws of his adopted country. Had the worthy Andrea heard the numberless maledictions, that the stranger muttered between his teeth, as he left the house, it would have shocked all his sensibilities, if it did not revive his suspicions. It was now night; but a starry, calm, voluptuous evening, such as are familiar to those who are acquainted with the Mediterranean and its shores. There was scarcely a breath of wind, though the cool air, that appeared to be a gentle respiration of the sea, induced a few idlers still to linger on the heights, where there was a considerable extent of land, that might serve for a promenade. Along this walk the mariner proceeded, undetermined, for the moment, what to do next. He had scarcely got into the open space, however before a female, with her form closely enveloped in a mantle brushed near him, anxiously gazing into his face. Her motions were too quick and sudden for him to obtain a look in return; but, perceiving that she held her way along the heights, beyond the spot most frequented by the idlers, he followed until she stopped. "Ghita !" said the young man, in a tone of delight, when he had got near enough to the female to recognise a face and form she no longer attempted to conceal; "this is being fortunate, indeed, and saves a vast deal of trouble. A thousand, thousand thanks, dearest Ghita, for this one act of kindness. I might have brought trouble on you, as well as on myself, in striving to find your residence." "It is for that reason, Raoul, that I have ventured so much more than is becoming in my sex, to meet you. A thousand eyes, in this gossiping little town, are on your lugger, at this moment, and be certain they will also be on its captain, as soon as it is known he has landed. I fear you do not know for what you and your people are suspected, at this very instant!" "For nothing discreditable, I hope, dear Ghita, if it be only not to dishonour your friends!" 66 Many think, and say, you are Frenchmen, and that the English flag is only a disguise." 66 "If that be all, we must bear the infamy," answered Raoul Yvard, laughing. Why, this is just what we are, to a man, a single American excepted; who is an excellent fellow to make out British commissions, and help us to a little English when harder pushed than common; and why should we be offended, if the good inhabitants of Porto Ferrajo take us for what we are!" "Not offended, Raoul, but endangered. If the vice-governatore gets this notion, he will order the batteries to fire upon you, and will destroy you as an enemy." 66 Not he, Ghita. He is too fond of le Capitaine Smeet', to do so cruel a thing; and then he must shift all his guns, before they will hurt le Feu-Follet, where she lies. I never leave my little Jack-o'Lantern* within reach of an enemy's hand. Look here, Ghita; you can see her through this opening in the houses - that dark spot on the bay, there and you will perceive no gun from any battery in Porto Ferrajo can as much as frighten, much less harm her." "I know her position, Raoul, and understood why you anchored in that spot. I knew, or thought I knew you, from the first moment you came in plain sight; and so long as you remained outside, I was not sorry to look on so old a friend - nay, I will go farther, and say I rejoiced, for it seemed to me, you passed so near the island, just to let some, whom you knew to be on it, understand you had not forgotten them; but when you came into the bay, I thought you mad!" "Mad I should have been, dearest Ghita, had I lived longer without seeing you. What are these misérables of Elbans, that I should fear them! They have no cruiser only a few feluccas, all of which are not worth the trouble of burning. Let them but point a finger at us, and we will tow their Austrian polacre out into the bay, and burn her before their eyes. Le Feu-Follet deserves her name; she is here, there, and everywhere, before her enemies suspect her." "But her enemies suspect her now, and you cannot be too cautious. My heart was in my throat a dozen times, while the batteries were firing at you, this evening." “And what harm did they ?—they cost the Grand Duke two cartridges, and two shot, without even changing the lugger's course! You have seen too much of these things, Ghita, to be alarmed by зmoke and noise." *The English of Feu-Follet. "I have seen enough of these things, Raoul, to know that a heavy shot, fired from these heights, would have gone through your little Feu-Follet, and, coming out under water, would have sunk you to the bottom of the Mediterra "We should have had our boats, then," answered Raoul Yvard, with an indifference that was not affected, for reckless daring was his vice, rather than his virtue; "besides, a shot must first hit, before it can harm, as the fish must be taken, before it can be cooked. But enough of this, Ghita; I get quite enough of shot, and ships, and sinkings, in everyday life, and, now I have at last found this blessed moment, we will not throw away the opportunity by talking of such matters 66 Nay, Raoul, I can think of nothing else, and therefore can talk of nothing else. Suppose the vice-governatore should suddenly take it into his head to send a party of sol diers to le Feu-Follet, with orders to seize her-what would then be your situation?" "Let him; and I would send a boat's crew to his palazzo, here," the conversation was in French, which Ghita spoke fluently, though with an Italian accent, "and take him on it cruise after the English, and his beloved Austrians! Bah! the idea will not cross his constitutional brain, and there is little use in talking about it. In the morning, I will send my prime minister, mon Barras, mon Carnot, mon Cambacérés, mon Ithuel Bolt, to converse with him on politics and religion." 66 Religion," repeated Ghita, in a saddened tone; "the less you say on that holy subject, Raoul, the better I shall like it, and the better it will be for yourself, in the end. The state of your country makes your want of religion matter of regret, rather than of accusation, but it is none the less a dreadful evil." "Well, then," resumed the sailor, who felt he had touched a dangerous ground, "we will talk of other things. Even supposing we are taken, what great evil have we to apprehend? We are honest corsairs, duly commissioned, and acting under the protection of the French Republic, one and undivided, and can but be made prisoners of war. That is a fortune which has once befallen me, and no greater calam |