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Griffin lost a good deal of ground by this assertion, which implied a doubt of Andrea's knowledge of foreign tongues. "You say, Signor Tenente, if I comprehend your meaning, that Ving-y-Ving is not English?" "Indeed I do, sir; at least no English that I have ever heard spoken, at sea or ashore; and we seamen have a language of our own."
It caused some merriment, and it was soon spread in the little town that a craft had just arrived from Inghilterra, whose name, in the dialect of that island, was "Ving-y-Ving," which meant "Ala e ala" in Italian, a cognomen that struck the listeners as sufficiently absurd.
This is being half French, I allow." "That alters the matter altogether. Neighbor Viti, this is all true about the island, and about its habits and its origin; and if one could be as certain about the names, why, nothing more need be said. Are Giac Smees, and Ving-y-Ving, Guernsey names?"
Lieutenant Griffin spoke unusually good Italian for a foreigner, and his manner of proceeding was so straightforward and direct as to carry with it every appearance of truth. "You do not know what I mean by ze Ving-y-Ving?" demanded the vice-governatore, with emphasis. "To be frank with you, I do not, Signore. Ving-y-Ving is not English; nor do I know that it is Italian." Mr.
Ze Ving-y-Ving is commanded by Sir Smees, a young officer of merit, as you must have seen yourself, Signore, by his evolutions this very morning. Surely, you have heard of Il Capitano Sir Smees, the son of Milordo Smees!"
"Ving-y-ving!" growled this functionary, not a little puzzled "what ze devil sort of name is zat! Ask zem again." "Come si chiama la vostra barca, Signori Inglesi?" repeated he who hailed. "Diable!" growled one back, in French; "she is called ze Wing-and-Wing 'Ala e Ala," giving a very literal translation of the name, in Italian.
"Eh he called himself Sir Smees, a capitano in the service of the English king." "What vessel did he pretend to command?" "Ze Ving-y-Ving a lugger, which I have since had reason to think is le Feu-Follet, a corsair under the French flag. Monsieur did me the favor to make two visits to Porto Ferrajo in the character of Sir Smees."
A very different matter is it with ze Ving-y-Ving and Il Signor Smees we may be said to know him have seen his papers, and the vice-governatore and myself have examined him, as it might be, on the history and laws of his island, for England is an island, neighbors, as well as Elba; another reason for respect and amity but we have gone over much of the literature and history of Inghilterra together and find everything satisfactory and right; therefore are we bound to show the lugger protection and love."
"But you did not see me doing this? You mean you saw ze Ving-and-Ving in a combat with the frigate's boats." "Si that was it but you told me you were commander of ze Ving-y-Ving." "Let us understand you," put in the Judge Advocate "is it the intention of the prisoner to deny his being a Frenchman and an enemy?" "It is my intention, sir, to deny everything that is not proved."
But there can be no doubt that 'ze Ving-y-Ving' means to enter our bay again, and there stands the 'Signor Smees' examining us with a glass, as if he, too, contemplated another interview." "It strikes me, Vice-governatore, that it would be a sin next to heresy to doubt the character of those who so loyally put their trust in us.
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