to know whether I
recognised him. I had it on the tip of my tongue to tax him with his
perfidy, and to threaten to denounce him; but there was a something in
his glance which gave me the idea that he was meditating further
treachery, and I instantly decided that the most effective means to
defeat his plans, if he entertained any, would be to throw him off his
guard, and watch keenly the course of events; I therefore assumed a
calmness and indifference of demeanour which I certainly did not feel,
and looked at him as though I had never seen him before.

Waiting until the fellow was well out of ear-shot, I asked Francesca
whether he was one of the servants at the chateau.

"Well, no," she replied, "he is not exactly that. He is merely a kind
of hanger-on; his father died in our service, and this man was, in his
younger days, one of our stable-boys, but he left us about a year ago to
become a wood-cutter and charcoal-burner, and since then he just comes
and goes when he likes, finding board and lodging when he requires it,
and giving in return any trifling services that may be required of him."

Nothing more was said about the man at that time, but I resolved to
speak to Count Lorenzo about him at the first opportunity.

This presented itself the same evening, on our return to the chateau. I
recalled to the count's mind the conversation which had passed
respecting him among the French soldiers, and also directed his
attention to the fact that the subject of my remarks had been referred
to in terms which seemed to leave no room for doubt as to his treachery.

"But the individual of whom you speak was called Guiseppe, was he not?"
remarked the count, when I had said my say.

"Certainly," I replied. "What is the name of this man?"

"Matteo, Matteo Bartolozzi is his full name," replied the count. "I
thought there must be a mistake somewhere; you have evidently been
misled, my friend, by an accidental resemblance. Matteo a traitor!
Pardon me, my dear Signor Ralpho, but if you knew the poor fellow as
well as I do, you would recognise the absurdity of the supposition. I
have known Matteo all his life, and I should have no hesitation in
trusting him with _anything_, ay, even with my daughter's safety."

"Heaven forbid that such a necessity should ever arise," I fervently
exclaimed. "It would be better to confide her to the protection of a
pack of starving wolves. I am _not_ deceived by any accidental
resemblance,