"Has any strange sail been seen about your island within the last twenty-four hours?"
"The bay is full of strange sail, S'nore; even the Turks coming to see us, since the last trouble with the French."
"Aye--but the Turks are now your allies, like us English. Have you seen any other strangers?"
"They tell me there are ships from the far north, too, S'nore, off the town. Russians, I believe, they call them."
"They, too, are allies; but I mean enemies. Has there not been a lugger seen off your island within the last day or two--a lugger of the French?"
"Si--si--I know what you mean now, S'nore; there _has_ been a vessel like that you mention off the island; for I saw her with my own eyes--si--si. It was about the twenty-third hour last evening--a lugger, and we all said she must be French by her wicked looks."
"Raoul!" said Ghita, as if reproaching him for an indiscretion.
"This is the true way to befog them," answered the young man; "they have certainly heard of us; and by seeming to tell a little truth frankly it will give me an opportunity of telling more untruth."
"Ah, Raoul, it is a sad life that renders untruths necessary!"
"It is the art of war, dearest; without it we should soon be outwitted by these knaves of English. Si--si, S'nori; we all said just that concerning her looks and rig."
"Will you sheer your boat alongside, friend," inquired Griffin, "and come on board of us? We have a ducat here that wants an owner; I fancy it will fit your pocket as well as another's. We will haul you ahead, abreast of the gangway."
"Oh, Raoul, do not think of this rash act!" whispered Ghita; "the vice-governatore or the podestà will recollect you; and then all will be lost!"
"Fear nothing, Ghita--a good cause and a keen wit will carry me through; while the least hesitation might, indeed, ruin us. These English first ask, and then take without asking, if you tell them no. Corpo di Bacco! who ever heard, either, of a lazzarone's refusing a ducat!"
Raoul then whispered a few words to Ithuel, when, the boat being by this time far enough ahead, he gave it a sheer alongside of the ship, seized a man-rope, and went up the cleets as actively as a cat. It is certain not a soul on board that fine frigate had the least suspicion of the true character of the individual who now confidently trod her quarter-deck. The young man himself loved the excitement of such an adventure, and he felt the greater confidence in his impunity, from the circumstance that there was no other light than that of the moon. The sails, too, cast their shadows upon deck; and then, neither of the two Italians was a wizard at detecting impostors, as he knew by experience.