Part 2 (1/2)

”You appear to be suspected, my friend,” he observed to the one

”So it seenore,” he answered ”The fact is, once upon a tioods on board, which I contrived to land without paying the duties, and I have ever since been watched as if I were a sler”

”It was clumsy in you to be discovered,” observed the Greek ”In the present instance I ht find it inconvenient”

Aquietly at a little distance froovernnor Sandro, welco the master of the little vessel ”I have not seen you here for a long time”

”Not the less welcome I hope, Manuel,” said the master

”Few are who remember their friends and pay well,” said the boatnore?”

”By landingthem all the information they may require,” said the master ”Hark you, Manuel--put your head nearer--my boy's life is answerable for their safety--so, as you love et into no trouble They seek a passage to some part of their own country on board a merchantman, and have come here to look for one to suit thenor,” said the boat, or occupation?”

”Oh! mother of Heaven, don't ask me!” answered the padrone, with a terrified look ”They may overhear you It is not h that they pay well, and do not wish to be known Besides, they would not scruple to cut my throat if they were offended--andupwith them Even now, look at the captain--Iwith the hilt of his dagger there He isso long to you I tell you, you must watch over their safety; and, in the naet away as fast as possible--for, till they are out of the place, I shall not feel my head secure on my shoulders”

”Oh! I understand They are political offenders disguised as Greeks, who do not wish theirat a conclusion ”I'll undertake to serve you and the myself--and, I trust, that they will make it worth , when the Greek's voice su to the boatenor, and do your bidding,” was the answer

”Well, he may land me at once,” said the Greek ”Paolo, do you remain on board till I send for you, and let not a man quit the vessel on any excuse,” he whispered ”Such provisions as they require, the boate to make hi himself over the side of the vessel and took his seat in Manuel's boat

”Hist, Manuel,” he said, in the _lingua Franca_, well understood by the Maltese boat in your mind whether you will inform the authorities that a suspicious character has landed on the island, and get a reward fro what enerosity may induce me to besto, et you hung for a little transaction, of which you know”

The boatlance

”_Que diavolo_, who can this be?” he lish do not detain a man on bare suspicions, and but shabbily reward an informer On the other hand, twenty colonati are yours, if you doI do not want an answer--you are not a fool No on shore as fast as you can”

The Greek was a judge of character; and he seeether unacquainted with Manuel, the boat-place, and he stepped on shore with an independent and fearless air, where hewho crowded the quay The boatman, Manuel, sat in his boat a little distance fro him, and ready, apparently, to obey his orders when he should be required

The Greek proceeded onward through the lower parts of the town, eyeing those he passed with a quick keen glance, which seehts People were too ard hiress by stopping to stare at him; at the same time that many remarked him as he slowly sauntered on and wondered whence he had co h he had certainly not selected theor cleanest quarter He apparently was a stranger to the place, by the way in which he hesitated at each crossing, which turning he should take, till he had carefully deciphered the naaze up at the s of a house as if he expected to see some one there, and then to throw a copper to soar He walked with an air of so much independence and nonchalance, indeed, at tihtiness, that it was difficult to suppose he had the slightest apprehension of danger Not a person, however, who, passed him, escaped his scrutiny; and even when he appeared to stop carelessly, or for the sake of considering the way he was to take, he cast a hurried glance behind hi the spy on his h to convince him that the vessel, in which he had come, was in bad odour, and he naturally concluded that her passengers would be narroatched Of the croho passed, not a hu seemed to know him, and if he was in reality particularly observed, it was done so cleverly and so cautiously, that with all his ingenuity, he failed to discover whether such was the case or not He had already traversed a nuhts of steps and descending others--when, at the corner of a narrow lane, his eye fell on a squalid-looking beggar as lustily calling on the passers-by, in the name of all the saints, to preserve him from starvation A broad-brimmed hat with a crown similar to those worn by Italian bandits, but sadly battered and broith age and dirt, orn slouchingly on his head, so as almost to hide his features, which were further concealed by a handkerchief tied under his chin, and a black patch over one of his eyes A tattered cloak, the cast-off finery of a dandy of the palhts of Malta, covered his shoulders, as did, in part, his legs, a pair of blue cloth trousers, through which his knees obtruded, and which were fringed with torn stripes at the feet Such of his features as were visible were as ill-favoured as well could be His voice, too, had a peculiarly disagreeable tone, as in the _lingua Franca_ of the Maltese e was supporting himself carelessly on a pair of crutches, while he rested on one foot, and stretched forth the palht be put into it The Greek stopped and put his hand into his pocket to draw out a piece of ar Theat hian to sink and treetful of his calling

”I thought you would know et those I have once seen either as friends or foes”

”No, signor, I perceive you do not,” replied the beggar, tre with alarm ”Have mercy on er ”At present, you deserve no ive you an opportunity of serving me; and if you do so faithfully, I will overlook the past”

”You are very generous, signor--you alere,” exclai to fall down and eo to any part of the world I will go through fire and water to serve you”