Then he narrated how he had supported himself by playing the violin, and at the same time learned to speak Italian as well as a native.
Finally came the scene in the café, when Captain Harley rescued him from the cruelty of a bully, and after that there was very little to tell up to the time the brigantine was lost and his best friend vanished from the scene, never to appear again on earth.
Paul Singleton harked back to his earliest recollections, and with the skill of a lawyer asked questions that put Darry's memory to a strain; he examined the singular mark upon the boy's arm with deepest interest and seemed impressed.
"That will undoubtedly prove one thing or the other, as soon as I can see her," Darry heard him say, as if to himself.
Evidently Paul Singleton knew nothing of the mark and was depending upon some other party to settle the identification.
It was noon before either of them realized it.
Darry declared he must hurry off so as to catch the lawyer at his office and settle matters before going home.
"Hark, Darry," said Paul, holding his hand as they parted; "promise me that if there is anything else I can do to please you I'm to know it right away. Confide in me, my boy. It makes me happy to share, even to a limited extent, in your little affairs. And you know we are going to be great chums all winter, you and I. Look on me then as a sort of elder brother or a cousin, if you please."
And Darry thought as he looked into the clear laughing eyes of Paul Singleton that nothing would give him greater happiness on earth than if he could claim relationship to this fine manly fellow.
He seemed to be walking on air as he left the cove and headed into the village.