The officer replied in Italian, greatly to Stump's disgust. "I s'pose the chap they chucked overboard was the on'y Dago among 'em who could speak English," he grunted, but Mrs. Haxton explained that the officer was asking for the gangway to be lowered. Stump nodded to a couple of sailors, and the ladder dropped so smartly that the boat nearly came to grief a second time. The officer bowed very politely when he reached the deck. Probably he was surprised to find himself in the presence of two such beautiful women. Though Irene spoke Italian, Mrs. Haxton took on herself the role of interpreter. The _Cigno_ carried two letters from the Governor of Massowah, she said. One was addressed to Signor Fenshawe, the other to the signor captain of the British yacht _Aphrodite_. Would the two gentlemen kindly read and acknowledge receipt of the Governor's epistles? Both were purely formal documents. They set forth the official demand that the _Aphrodite_ should not attempt to land any of her occupants on Italian territory at other than a recognized port, and warned her owner and commander that the _Cigno_ would enforce observance of the request. At first, Mr. Fenshawe refused angrily to give a written reply, but von Kerber prevailed on him, and he wrote: "Mr. Hiram Fenshawe begs to inform the Governor of Erythrea that his prohibition of the landing of a British scientific expedition in the colony he rules is arbitrary and unwarranted. Mr. Hiram Fenshawe is further of opinion that the said prohibition is part of the lawless treatment to which he and other members of the yacht's company were subjected during their visit to the 'recognized port' of Massowah. Finally, Mr. Hiram Fenshawe intends to lay the whole matter before the British Foreign Office." This stiff-necked answer showed clearly that the writer was still on von Kerber's side, no matter what revelations were contained in the letter from London which Royson knew of. Irene copied the note for her grandfather. She made no comment. Perhaps her own island blood was a-boil at the cavalier tone of the Governor's threat. Stump's letter was characteristic. It ran: S. Y. Aphrodite, Lat. 15° 10' N., Long. 41° 15' E, SIR--Yours at hand. Will act as think fit. Yours truly, JOHN STUMP, Master The disagreeable part of this business ended, the Italian officer conveyed the compliments of the Cigno's commander, and, on his behalf, invited Signor Fenshawe and the two ladies to luncheon. Mr. Fenshawe stiffly declined, on the plea that he did not wish to interrupt the voyage, and the envoy went back to his ship. The _Aphrodite_ swung round into the wind, dipped her ensign, and was soon bowling along at her usual rate. The _Cigno_ stood away for the coast, but, as the day wore, it was palpable that she did not mean to part company with the yacht until the Straits of Bab-el-mandeb were passed.