n which you have come forward to explain the
matter removes all disagreeable feeling on the subject, and I am very
happy to make your acquaintance."

Dicky Sharpe drew a deep breath, as if some dire forebodings were
removed. I don't know what he thought was going to happen to us.

"I must now introduce you to Signor Bianconi, and I am sure he will have
great pleasure if you can remain and spend the evening with us,"
continued the lady. "I shall hope also to see you shortly at my house
in the country."

We thanked Signora Faranelli very much for her kindness, but explained
that we had a friend waiting outside for us, who had, however, nothing
to do with the carriage affair. Of course Adam Stallman was requested
to come in, and, to my surprise, he consented.

"I like what you tell me of the people, D'Arcy, and their acquaintance
must be worth making," he observed.

We spent a very pleasant evening, got on board in good time, and the
next day, meeting some of our companions in the carriage adventure, were
able to relieve their minds from certain apprehensions of the
consequences, and to tell them of the satisfactory results; nor did we
fail to give Stallman credit, which was his due. They, the rogues, were
now in a great hurry to go and apologise also; but their impudence, for
a wonder, would not carry them up to the point for action.

Whenever we put into Malta, Dicky and I did not fail to call on Signora
Faranelli and Signor Bianconi: and many a happy day we spent at their
houses. Often and often I have since seen that, by acting with
truthfulness and candour, very much inconvenience, and even misery and
suffering, might have been saved, and much good obtained. There is a
golden rule I must urge on my young friends ever to follow: _Do right,
and leave the result to God_.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

SAILING OF THE ARIADNE--CHISSEL'S CRUELTY--LOSS OF BOBBY SMUDGE--A HEAVY
SQUALL--BOBBY SMUDGE'S GHOST--REFLECTIONS THEREON.

Shortly after this we were ordered to get ready for sea, though our
destination was not known. Before we sailed, Major and Miss Norman
again came on board, and we heard that, his health being re-established,
they had taken their passage in a brig bound for England. We were very
sorry for this, as we feared that Mr Vernon would be wishing to go home
to marry, and that we should thus lose him. The next morning the
_Ariadne_, the brig in question, a remarkably fine vessel for an English
merc