[6] Singular as was this occurrence, and painful as it must have proved to the parties to the execution, it is one of the simplest consequences of natural causes.  All animal matter swells in water previously to turning corrupt.  A body that has became of twice its natural size, in this manner, as a matter of course, displaces twice the usual quantity of water; the weight of the mass remaining the same.  Most human frames floating, in their natural state, so long as the lungs are inflated with air, it follows that one in this condition would bring up with it as much weight in iron, as made the difference between its own gravity and that of the water it displaced.  The upright attitude of Caraccioli was owing to the shot attached to the feet; of which, it is also probable, one or two had become loosened.

Neither Carlo Giuntotardi nor Ghita Caraccioli—­for so we must continue to call the girl, albeit the name is much too illustrious to be borne by one of her humble condition in life—­but neither of these two had any other design, in thus seeking out the unfortunate admiral, than to perform what each believed to be a duty.  As soon as the fate of Caraccioli was decided, both were willing to return to their old position in life; not that they felt ashamed to avow their connection with the dead, but because they were quite devoid of any of that worldly ambition which renders rank and fortune necessary to happiness.

When he left the crowd of boats, Raoul pulled toward the rocks which bound the shores of the bay, near the gardens of Portici.  This was a point sufficiently removed from the common anchorage to be safe from observation; and yet so near as to be reached in considerably less than an hour.  As the light boat proceeded Ghita gradually regained her composure.  She dried her eyes and looked around her inquiringly, as if wondering whither their companion was taking them.

“I will not ask you, Raoul, why you are here at a moment like this, and whence you have come,” she said; “but I may ask whither you are now carrying us?  Our home is at St. Agata, on the heights above Sorrento, and on the other side of the bay.  We come there annually to pass a month with my mother’s sister, who asks this much of our love.”

“If I did not know all this, Ghita, I would not and could not be here.  I have visited the cottage of your aunt this day; followed you to Naples, heard of the admiral’s trial and sentence, understood how it would affect your feelings, traced you on board the English admiral’s ship, and was in waiting as you found me; having first contrived to send away the man who took you off.  All this has come about as naturally as the feeling which has induced me to venture again into the lion’s mouth.”

“The pitcher that goes often to the well, Raoul, gets broken at last,” said Ghita, a little reproachfully, though it surpassed her power to prevent the tones of tenderness from mingling with her words.