That moment came near changing the whole current of Will's life--not in the direction of ill-will to our beloved Admiral, though he had wondered how he was to believe in spite of his senses, but in the direction of winning that which lay nearest his heart in despite of Katherine--the love of Donna Rusidda. Our Katherine can never hear of it now without blushing for pleasure. She loves it best of anything in Will's whole life. For, walking up to Donna Rusidda, he knelt before her and kissed her hand. As he rose his eyes fell instinctively upon her feet, which were beautiful even for a Sicilian aristocrat. The slender slippers were all dusty and cut, and the ruined white satin of one of them had a tell-tale stain of blood; and then the swift intuition of love told him that his trust was justified--that she must have run herself from the Palace to bring the cry for help--and he knelt once more before her, and covered her hands with tears as well as kisses. And tears rained down the cheeks of the conqueror of the Nile, as he called out in a broken voice: "Brave Will! I would rather have done that than win a battle!" Such a flush of gratitude swept over Donna Rusidda that she was tongue-tied, and could only thank him with her eyes, and the glory of beauty at its highest tension. And Will, dreading the words of gratitude which were struggling to come, cried: "The news, Rusidda? The Palace has not fallen?" "Not that--but the Queen's diamonds----" "Lost?" "Not yet, but in two hours' time those who are bringing them hither will be murdered and robbed." She repeated what she had told the Admiral. The Admiral sat down and hastily wrote an order. "To the Commander of the Boat Division, Naples Bay. "_Dec. 20th._ "Give the rogue twelve days to cut the laces." "I see you have your sword, Will? Have you pistols?" "No, my Lord." "Take mine. I have had to bring them ashore since I came down from Leghorn. You are not afraid to make your way to the boats single-handed? The place is full of cut-throats now, of a night. I could send some of Sir William's men with you." "That would attract attention, my Lord; besides----" "Besides what, Will?" asked the Admiral affectionately, with his hand on Will's arm. "You may need them to save the Queen's diamonds. If I am not back within the hour, you will know." "I know, my boy!" he answered, choking; "and I'm d--d if I think all the diamonds in the world worth such a life." "It is not only for the diamonds, my Lord." "I know, my boy. Honour! Duty! It is to win the right to ask for a post of honour. Remember, if you are hard pressed, to fire your pistols. If one of our boats hears, it will dash in and land a party. My orders are, 'Follow up a shot.'--And Will?" "My Lord."