than has marked their laws and reasoning for the few past months[8].  In a word, the subject of all these tribulations felt an intimate conviction that his rights, legal and moral, would avail him but little on the present occasion.  Then a man never does wrong, even in defence of that which is inherently his due, without the secret consciousness that “evil may not be done, that good may come of it”; and Ithuel had a certain inward monitor to remind him that, much as he had in the way of justifiable complaint, he had carried the war into the enemy’s country.

[8] The question of impressment is now settled forever.  The United States have now a mortgage on the Canadas to secure the good behavior of Great Britain.

The boat had no sooner touched the deck, than its cargo was handed out by the boatswain, who, keeping no watch, had not yet turned in; and who was almost as important a functionary on board the Proserpine, as was Vito Viti in the town of Porto Ferrajo.  He examined each individual, as he or she landed, as he called it; Ghita attracting so much of his attention as completely to eclipse her companions.  The soft air and manner of the girl appeared so winning, indeed, by the light of the moon, which now fell clear upon the decks, that all near her, including the officers, submitted to very much the same influence.

“So, so, Master Yvard,” said Cuffe, in English, “if you do come into an enemy’s camp incog., it is in reasonably good company.  That girl is Italian, Winchester; and she even seems modest!”

“Little Ghita!” exclaimed Vito Viti, “as I hope one day to lie in the bosom of Father Abraham!  Bellissima Ghita, what has brought thee here, and in such evil company?”

Ghita was in tears; but, uncertain how far Raoul was committed, she struggled for self-command, and did succeed in suppressing emotions that might otherwise have rendered his situation more dangerous.  Drying her eyes, she curtsied to the vice-governatore and the podesta and then answered the question.

“Signori,” she said, “it is a relief to meet countrymen and old acquaintances on board this strange ship; and I look to you for protection.  I do not call it strange or evil company for an orphan niece to be on the water with her uncle and one that has ever been a father to her.”

“Ah—­sure enough, vice-governatore, this is Carlo Giuntotardi, the uncle; and the man who dwells so much with the saints, even on earth, that he seldom speaks to a sinner.  But thou knowest, little Ghita, that one of thy watermen is no less a person that Raoul Yvard, the wickedest corsair that sails out of France, and the pest and persecution of the whole Italian coast?  Did the church condescend to notice such an unbelieving republican, it would be to command all its faithful to unite in their prayers for his destruction.”

“Raoul Yvard!” repeated Ghita, with sufficient astonishment in her manner to satisfy any reasonable amount of wonder on the part of the other.  “Are you certain, Signor Podesta, of the truth of what you say?”