"Well, then, eccellenza, the lugger was near the Island of Capri, on the side next the Mediterranean, which you know, S'nore, is on the side opposite to the bay and near, as might be, abreast of the house of Giacomo Alberti--does your eccellenza know anything of the house I mean?" "Not I; but tell your story as if I knew all about it. It is these particulars which give value to a tale. How far from the nearest land? Mention that fact, by all means, if you happen to remember." "Well, eccellenza, could the distance be measured, now I would think it would prove to be about as far--not quite, S'nore, but, I say, _about_--about as far as from the said Giacomo's largest fig-tree to the vines of Giovanni, his wife's cousin. Si--I think, just about that distance." "And how far may that be, friend? Be precise, as much may depend on your answers." "S'nore, that may be a trifle further than it is from the church to the top of the stairs that lead to Ana Capri." "Cospetto!--Thou wilt earn thy ducat speedily at this rate! Tell us at once in miles; was the lugger one, two, six, or twenty miles from your island at the time thou speak'st of?" "Eccellenza, you bid me speak of the _time_, in the second place; after I had told you of the _where_, in the first place. I wish to do whatever will give you pleasure, S'nore." "Neighbor Vito Viti," put in the vice-governatore, "it may be well to remember that this matter is not to be recorded as you would put on file the confessions of a thief; it may be better to let the honest boatman tell his story in his own way." "Aye, now the vecchy has set to work, I hope we shall get the worth of our ducat," observed Cuffe, in English. "S'nori," rejoined Raoul, "it shall be just as your eccellenzi say. The lugger you speak of was off the island last evening, steering toward Ischia; which place she must have reached in the course of the night, as there was a good land-wind from the twenty-third to the fifth hour." "This agrees with our account as to the time and place," said Griffin; "but not at all as to the direction the corsair was steering. We hear she was rather rounding the southern cape for the Gulf of Salerno." Raoul started, and gave thanks mentally that he had come on board, as this statement showed that his enemies had received only too accurate information of his recent movements. He had hopes, however, of being able yet to change their intentions and of putting them on a wrong scent. "S'nori," he said, "I should like to know who it is that mistakes southeast for northwest. None of our pilots or boatmen, I should think, could ever make so great a blunder. S'nore, you are an officer and understand such things; and I will just ask you if Ischia does not lie northwest of Capri?" "Of that fact there can be no manner of doubt," returned Griffin; "it is equally true that the Gulf of Salerno lies southeast of both--"