“I ought to explain to you, Sir Cuffe, the manner in which a recent event occurred in our bay here,” observed the vice-governatore; “since, without such explanation, you might be apt to consider us neglectful of our duties, and unworthy of the trust which the Grand Duke reposes in us.  I allude, as you will at once understand, to the circumstance that le Feu-Follet has twice been lying peaceably under the guns of our batteries, while her commander, and, indeed, some of her crew, have been hospitably entertained on shore.”

“Such things must occur in times like these, Mr. Veechy-Governatory; and we seamen set them down to the luck of war,” Cuffe answered graciously, being much too magnanimous, under his own success, to think of judging others too harshly.  “It might not be so easy to deceive a man-of-war’s-man like myself; but I dare say, Veechy-Governatory, had it been anything relating to the administration of your little island here, even Monsieur Yvard would have found you too much for him!”

The reader will perceive that Cuffe had got a new way of pronouncing the appellation of the Elban functionary; a circumstance that was owing to the desire we all have, when addressing foreigners, to speak in their own language rather than in our own.  The worthy captain had no more precise ideas of what a vice-governor means than the American people just now seem to possess of the signification of vice-president; but, as he had discovered that the word was pronounced “veechy” in Italian, he was quite willing to give it its true sound; albeit a smile struggled round the mouth of Griffin while he listened.

“You do me no more than justice, Signor Kooffe, or Sir Kooffe, as I presume I ought to address you,” answered the functionary; “for, in matters touching our duties on shore here, we are by no means as ignorant as on matters touching your honorable calling.  This Raoul Yvard presented himself to me in the character of a British officer, one I esteem and respect; having audaciously assumed the name of a family of high condition and of great power, I believe, among your people—­”

“Ah—­the barone!” exclaimed Cuffe, who, having discovered by his intercourse with the southern Italians that this word meant a “rascal” as well as a “baron,” was fond of using it on suitable occasions.  “Pray, Veechy-Governatory, what name did he assume?  Ca’endish, or Howard, or Seymour, or some of those great nobs, Griffin, I’ll engage!  I wonder that he spared Nelson!”

“No, Signore, he took the family appellation of another illustrious race.  The republican corsair presented himself before me as a Sir Smees—­the son of a certain Milordo Smees.”

“Smees—­Smees—­Smees!—­I’ve no recollection of any such name in the peerage.  It can’t be Seymour that the Veechy means!—­That is a great name, certainly; and some of them have been in the service; it is possible this barone may have had the impudence to hail for a Seymour!”