This brought a coquettish answer, during which time Andrea Barrofaldi, having first satisfied himself that the wine might be swallowed with impunity, was occupied in surveying the party of silent and humble mariners, who were seated at the other table.  His object was to ascertain how far he might have committed himself, by appearing in such a place, when his visit could not well be attributed to more than one motive.  ’Maso he knew, as the oldest pilot of the place, and he had also some knowledge of Daniele Bruno; but the three other seamen were strangers to him.

“Inquire if we are among friends, here, and worthy subjects of the Grand Duke, all,” observed Andrea to Vito Viti, in a low voice.

“Thou hearest, ’Maso,” observed the podesta; “canst thou answer for all of thy companions?”

“Every one of them, Signore:  this is Daniele Bruno, whose father was killed in a battle with the Algerines, and whose mother was the daughter of a mariner, as well known in Elba as—­”

“Never mind the particulars, Tommaso Tonti,” interrupted the vice-governatore—­“it is sufficient that thou knowest all thy companions to be honest men, and faithful servants of the sovrano.  You all know, most probably, the errand which has brought the Signor Viti and myself to this house, to-night?”

The men looked at each other, as the ill-instructed are apt to do, when it becomes necessary to answer a question that concerns many; assisting the workings of their minds, as it might be, with the aid of the senses; and then Daniele Bruno took on himself the office of spokesman.

“Signore, vostro eccellenza, we think we do,” answered the man.  “Our fellow, ’Maso here, has given us to understand that he suspects the Inglese that is anchored in the bay to be no Inglese at all, but either a pirate or a Frenchman.  The blessed Maria preserve us! but in these troubled times it does not make much difference which.”

“I will not say as much as that, friend—­for one would be an outcast among all people, while the other would have the rights which shield the servants of civilized nations,” returned the scrupulous and just-minded functionary.  “The time was when His Imperial Majesty, the emperor, and his illustrious brother, our sovereign, the Grand Duke, did not allow that the republican government of France was a lawful government; but the fortune of war removed his scruples, and a treaty of peace has allowed the contrary.  Since the late alliance, it is our duty to consider all Frenchmen as enemies, though it by no means follows that we are to consider them as pirates.”

“But their corsairs seize all our craft, Signore, and treat their people as if they were no better than dogs; then, they tell me that they are not Christians—­no, not even Luterani or heretics!”

“That religion does not flourish among them, is true,” answered Andrea, who loved so well to discourse on such subjects, that he would have stopped to reason on religion or manners with the beggar to whom he gave a pittance, did he only meet with encouragement; “but it is not as bad in France, on this important head, as it has been; and we may hope that there will be further improvement in due time.”