about nine o'clock
`` Doubtless , Signor Tenente , you belong to ze Ving-y-Ving and are a subordinate of Sir Smees ? '' The young man looked surprised and at the same time half disposed to laugh , though a sense of decorum suppressed the latter inclination . `` I belong to His Britannic Majesty 's ship Proserpine , Signore , '' he dryly answered , `` and know not what you mean by the Ving-y-Ving . Captain Cuffe of that ship , the frigate you saw off your harbor this morning , has sent me down in the felucca that got in this evening to communicate intelligence concerning the lugger which we chased to the southward about nine o'clock , but which , I see , is again snug at her anchor in this bay . Our ship was lying behind Capraya when I left her , but will be here to take me off , and to hear the news , before daylight , should the wind ever blow again . '' Andrea Barrofaldi and Vito Viti stared , and that , too , as if a messenger had come from the lower regions to summon them away for their misdeeds . 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 .