only one to which you
have any legal right. If your name is not Luttrell, it is Vasari. If you
object to retaining the name of Luttrell, why not adopt Vasari? Why
complicate matters by taking a name (like that of Stretton) which has no
meaning, no importance, no distinction? All unnecessary concealment of
truth is foolish; and this is an unnecessary concealment.

"Secondly, may I ask why you propose to accompany your English friends
to a place so near your old home? If you wish it to be thought that you
are dead, why, in Heaven's name, do you go to a spot which is not ten
miles from the house where you were brought up? True, your appearance is
altered; your hair is grey and your beard has grown. But your voice:
have you thought how easily your voice may betray you? And I have known
cases where the eyes alone have revealed a person's identity. If you
wish to keep your secret, let me entreat you not to go to Strathleckie.
If you wish to undo all that you have succeeded in doing, if you wish to
deprive the lady who has inherited the Strathleckie property of her
inheritance, then, indeed, you will go to Scotland, but in so doing you
show a want of judgment and resolution which I cannot understand.

"You were at the monastery with us after your illness for many months.
We learned to know you well and to regard you with affection. We were
sorry when you grew restless and wandered away from us to seek fresh
work amongst English people--English and Protestant--for the sake of old
associations and habit. But we did not think--or at least I did not
think--that you were so illogical and so weak as your present conduct
drives me to consider you.

"There is only one explanation possible. You risk discovery, you follow
these people to Scotland because one of the ladies of the family has
given you, or you hope that she will give you, some special marks of
favour. In plain words, you are in love. I have partially gathered that
from your letters. Perhaps she also is in love with you. There is a Miss
Heron, who is said to be beautiful; there is also Miss Murray. Is it on
account of either of these ladies that you have returned to Scotland?

"I speak very frankly, because I conceive that I have a certain claim
upon your confidence. I do not merely allude to the kindness shown to
you by the Brothers of San Stefano, which probably saved your life. I
claim your regard because I know that you were born in this village,
baptised by one of o