"
He wheeled about, following my glance, and saluted the Princess, who
had followed and overtaken us.
"Man," said I, "you shall tell us your story as soon as ever you have
helped us to a safe lodging. But here are we--and there, coming
towards us along the quay, are two comrades--four Corsicans in all,
whose lives, if the Genoese detect us, are not worth five minutes'
purchase."
"Then, excuse me," said Mr. Fett, becoming serious of a sudden, "but
isn't it a damned foolish business that brings you?"
"It may be," I answered. "But the point is, Can you help us?"
"To a lodging? Why, certainly, as luck has it, I can take you
straight--no, not straight exactly, but the devil of a way round--to
one where you can lie as snug as fleas in a blanket. Oh--er--but
excuse me--" He checked himself and stood rubbing his chin, with a
dubious glance at the Princess.
"Indeed, sir," she put in, smoothing down at her peasant-skirt,
"I think you first found me lodging upon a bare rock, and even in
this new dress it hardly becomes me to be more fastidious."
"I was thinking less of the lodgings, Princess, than of the company:
though, to be sure, the girls are very good-hearted, and Donna Julia,
our _prima amorosa_, makes a most discreet _duenna_, off the boards.
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