lderly
gentleman and the women, at such an unexpected deliverance, was equally
great. There was a silence for a few seconds.

"Ned," at last said Jack, "tell these chaps to drop their swords, or we
fire."

Gascoigne gave the order in Italian, and it was complied with. The
midshipmen then possessed themselves of the rapiers, and gave the young
men their liberty.

The elderly gentleman at last broke the silence.

"It would appear, signors, that there was an especial interference of
Providence, to prevent you from committing a foul and unjust murder.
Who these are that have so opportunely come to my rescue, I know not,
but thanking them as I do now, I think that you will yourselves, when
you are calm, also thank them for having prevented you from committing
an act which would have loaded you with remorse and embittered your
future existence. Gentlemen, you are free to depart: you, Don Silvio,
have indeed disappointed me; your gratitude should have rendered you
incapable of such conduct: as for you, Don Scipio, you have been misled;
but you both have, in one point, disgraced yourselves. Ten days back my
sons were both here--why did you not come then? If you sought revenge
on me, you could not have inflicted it deeper than through my children,
and at least you would not have acted the part of assassins in attacking
an old man. Take your swords, gentlemen, and use them better
henceforth. Against future attacks I shall be well prepared."

Gascoigne, who perfectly understood what was said, presented the sword
to the young gentleman from whom he had taken it--our hero did the same.
The two young men returned them to their sheaths, and quitted the room
without saying a word.

"Whoever you are, I owe to you and thank you for my life," said the
elderly gentleman, scanning the outward appearance of our two
midshipmen.

"We are," said Gascoigne, "officers in the English navy, and gentlemen;
we were wrecked in our boat last night, and have wandered here in the
dark, seeking for assistance, and food, and some conveyance to Palermo,
where we shall find friends, and the means of appearing like gentlemen."

"Was your ship wrecked, gentlemen?" inquired the Sicilian, "and many
lives lost?"

"No, our ship is at Malta; we were in a boat on a party of pleasure,
were caught by a gale, and driven on the coast. To satisfy you of the
truth, observe that our pistols have the king's mark, and that we are
not paupers, we show you