As has been said already, these bulkheads extended from gun to gun, so as to admit light and air from the ports.

This brought the tackles on one side into the room; and on one of these Raoul now took his seat.
Andrea Barrofaldi, from his superior condition in life, as well as from his better education and nicer natural tact, far surpassed his companion in courtesy of demeanor.

The latter would have plunged _in medias res_ at once, but the vice-governatore commenced a conversation on general matters, intending to offer his congratulations for the recent respite when he conceived that a suitable occasion should arise.

This was an unfortunate delay in one respect; for Vito Viti no sooner found that the main object of the visit was to be postponed, than he turned with eagerness to the subject in discussion, which had been interrupted in order to enter the state-room.
"Here has the vice-governatore come forward with a theory, Sir Smees," he commenced, the moment a pause in the discourse left him an opening--"here has the vice-governatore come forward with a theory that I insist the church would call damnable, and at which human nature revolts----" "Nay, good Vito, thou dost not state the case fairly," interrupted Andrea, whose spirit was a little aroused at so abrupt an assault.

"The theory is not mine; it is that of a certain English philosopher, in particular, who, let it be said, too, was a bishop." "A Lutheran!--was it not so, honorable Signor Andrea ?--a bishop so called ?" "Why, to confess the truth, he _was_ a heretic, and not to be considered as an apostle of the true church." "Aye--I would have sworn to that.