etic interest
which had often given him so strong a hold over men's hearts and lives.
He was a master in the art of influencing younger men; he had the subtle
instinct which told him exactly what to say and how far to go, when to
speak and when to be silent; and Brian, with no motive for concealment,
now that his name was once known, was like a child in the Prior's hands.

In return for his confidence, Padre Cristoforo told him the substance of
his interview with old Assunta, and of the confession written by
Vincenza. But when Brian asked to see this paper the Prior shook his
head.

"I have not got it here," he said. "It was certainly preserved, by the
desire of some in authority, but it was not thought to afford sufficient
testimony."

"What was wanting?"

"I cannot tell you precisely what was wanting; but, amongst other
matters, there is the fact that this Vincenza made a directly opposite
statement, which counterbalances this one."

"Then you have two written statements, contradicting each other? You
might as well throw them both into the fire," said Brian, with some
irritation. "Who is the 'authority' who preserves them? Can I not
present myself to him and demand a sight of the documents?"

"Under what name, and for what reason, would you ask to see them?"

Brian winced; he had for the moment forgotten what his own hand had
done.

"I could still prove my identity," he said, looking down. "But, no; I
will not. I did not lose myself upon the mountain-side because of this
mystery about my birth, but because I wanted to escape my mother's
reproaches and the burden of Richard's inheritance. Nothing will induce
me to go back to Scotland. To all intents and purposes, I am dead."

"Then," said the Prior, "since that is your resolution--your wise
resolution, let me say--I will tell you frankly what my reading of the
riddle has been, and what, I think, Vincenza did. It is my belief that
Mrs. Luttrell's child died, and was buried under the name of Vincenza's
child."

"You, too, then--you believe that I am not a Luttrell?"

"If the truth could ever be ascertained, which I do not think it will
be, I believe that this would turn out to be the case. The key of the
whole matter lies in the fact that Vincenza had twins. One of these
children was sent to the grandmother in the country; one was nursed in
the village of San Stefano. A fever had broken out in the village, and
Vincenza's charge--the little Brian Luttrell--d