Because I no longer wanted them; thirdly, Because to use them for my
final catastrophe would be to drag your name, and your daughter's
perhaps, before a police court,--at all events, before the tribunal of
public gossip; and lastly, Because, having decided upon the proper
punishment, it had too much of equity to be quite consistent with law;
and in forcibly seizing a man's person, and shipping him off to Norway,
my police would have been sadly in the way. Certainly my plan rather
savours of Lope de Vega than of Blackstone. However, you see success
atones for all irregularities. I resume: Beppo came back in time to
narrate all the arrangements that had been made, and to inform me that a
servant from the count had come on board just as our new crew were
assembled there, to order the boat to be at the place where we found it.
The servant it was deemed prudent to detain and secure. Giacomo
undertook to manage the boat.

"I am nearly at the close of my story. Sure of my disguise, I got on the
coach-box with Beppo. The count arrived at the spot appointed, and did
not even honour myself with a question or glance. 'Your brother?' he
said to Beppo; 'one might guess that; he has the family likeness. Not a
handsome race yours! Drive on.'

"We arrived at the house. I dismounted to open the carriage-door. The
count gave me one look. 'Beppo says you have known the sea.'

"'Excellency, yes. I am a Genoese.'

"'Ha! how is that? Beppo is a Lombard.'--Admire the readiness with which
I redeemed my blunder.

"'Excellency, it pleased Heaven that Beppo should be born in Lombardy,