"We have learned something to-day," observed Ercole, when the man had finished speaking.
"It is true," the man said. "And the name of the captain was Don Antonino Maresca. He was of Vico."
"Where is Vico?" inquired Ercole, idly scratching his dog's back with the stock of his gun.
"Near Castellamare," answered Padre Francesco, willing to show his knowledge.
"One sees that you are a man of the sea," said the sailor, meaning to please him. "And so we thank you, and we go."
Ercole and the old watchman saw the two ragged sailors put off in the battered boat and pull away over the bar; then they went back to the shade of the tower and sat down again and refilled their pipes, and were silent for a long time. Padre Francesco's old wife, who had not shown herself yet, came and stood in the doorway, nodded to Ercole, fanned herself with her apron, counted the chickens in sight, and observed that the weather was hot. Then she went in again.
"It is easy to remember the name of that ship," said Ercole at last, without glancing at his companion.
"And the master was Antonino Maresca of Vico," said Padre Francesco.
"But the truth is that it is none of our business," said Ercole.
"The captain was mistaken," said Padre Francesco.