贝丝精湛的枪法令绑匪不容小觑，他令手下带出约翰和费雷尔，换下了塔托。回到客栈，费雷尔将自己的身份和盘托出，原来他是……
"And now，"said Uncle John，as he sat in their cosy sitting—room，propped in an easy chair with his feet upon a stool，"it's about time for you to g i v e a n a c c o u n t o fa yourselves，you young rascals."They had eaten a late but very satisfactory dinner at the Castello—a—Mare，where the return of the missing ones was hailed with joy by the proprietor and his assistants.Even the little bewhiskeredb head—waiter，who resembled a jack—in—the—box more than he did a man，strove to celebrate the occasion by putting every good thing the house afforded before the returned guests.For，although they dared not interfere to protect the victims of the terrible Il Duca，the hotel people fully recognized the fact that brigandage was not a good advertisement for Taormina，and hoped the "little incident"would not become generally known.
Old Silas Watson，dignified lawyer as he was，actuallydanced a hornpipe when he beheld his old friend safe and soundc.But he shook his head reproachfullyd when he learned of the adventure his ward and the two girls had undertaken with such temeritye but marvelous success.
Beth had quickly recovered from her weakness，althoughKenneth had insisted on keeping her arm all the way home.But the girl had been silent and thoughtful，and would eat nothingat dinner.
When they had gathered in their room to talk it all over the lawyer thought his young friends deserved a reproof a.
"The money wasn't worth the risk，you crazy lunaticsb ！"hesaid.
"It wasn't the money at all，"replied Patsy，demurely."No？""It was the principle of the thing.And wasn't Beth just wonderful，though？""Shucks！"said Kenneth."She had to go and faint，like a ninnyc，and she cried all the way home，because she had hurt the brigand's ？nger."The girl's eyes were still red，but she answered the boy'sscornful remark by saying，gravely：
"I am sorry it had to be done.I'll never touch a revolver again as long as I live."Uncle John gathered his brave niece into an ample embrace."I'm very proud of you，my dear，"he said，stroking herhair lovingly，"and you mustn't pay any attention to that sillyboy.I've always known you were true blue，Beth，and now you have proved it to everyone.It may have been a reckless thing to do，as Mr.Watson says，but you did it like a major，and saved our self—esteem as well as our money.""Hurrah for Beth ！"yelled the boy，changing his colorswithout a blush.
"If you don't shut up，I'll box your ears，"said his guardian，sternly.
Uncle John and young Ferralti were the heroes of the evening.The little old gentleman smoked a big cigar and beamed upon his nieces and friends with intense satisfaction，while Ferralti sat glum and silent beside Louise until an abrupt challenge from Mr.Merrick effectually aroused him.
"I've only one fault to find with this young man，"wasthe observation referred to："that he made our acquaintance under false pretenses.When a fairly decent fellow becomes an impostor there is usually reason for it，and I would like Count Ferralti—or whatever his name is—to give us that reason and make a clean breast of a his deception."Ferralti bowed，with a serious face，but looked signi？cantlytoward the other members of the company.
"Whatever you have to say should be heard by all，"declared Uncle John，answering the look.
"Perhaps you are right，Mr.Merrick，and all present are entitled to an explanation，"answered the young man，slowly."I may have been foolish，but I believe I have done nothing that I need be ashamed of.Fortunately，there is now no further reason for concealment on my part，and in listening to my explanation I hope you will be as considerate aspossible."They were attentive enough，by this time，and every eye was turned，not unkindly，upon the youth who had so long been an enigmaa to them all—except，perhaps，to Louise.
"I am an American by birth，and my name is Arthur Weldon."In the pause that followed Uncle John gave a soft whistle and Patsy laughed outright，to the undisguised indignation of Louise.
