Maddalena knew too little about the sea to understand that he must have
noticed the vessel's rig to name it correctly, as he did, and without
hesitation.

"She is convinced that Marcello got on board of her," she answered.

Corbario's face relaxed a little, and he laughed harshly.

"That is utterly absurd!" he answered. "No swimmer that ever lived could
have got to her, nor any boat either! There was a terrific surf on the
bar."

"Of course not," assented Maddalena. "But you saw the ship, too?"

"Yes. Aurora was looking at her when I reached the gap. That is why I
noticed the vessel," Corbario added, as if by an afterthought. "She was
a Sicilian brigantine, and was carrying hardly any sail. If the gale had
lasted she would probably have been driven ashore. Her only chance would
have been to drop anchor."

"You know all about ships and the sea, don't you?" asked Maddalena, with
a very little curiosity, but without any particular intention.

"Oh, no!" cried Corbario, as if he were protesting against something. "I
have made several long voyages, and I have a knack of remembering the
names of things, nothing more."

"I did not mean to suggest that you had been a sailor," Maddalena
answered.