here I recognised him as the
gentleman whom I had previously seen travelling in Germany. I had had
some conversation with him, and he had interested me--I remembered him
well."

"Did he give his name as Brian Luttrell then?"

"I accosted him by it, and he begged me at once not to do so, but to
give him another name."

"What name?"

"I will tell you the name presently, Mr. Heron. He remained in the
monastery for some months: first ill of a fever on the brain, then,
after his recovery, as a teacher to our young pupils. When he grew
stronger he became tired of our peaceful life; he left the monastery and
wandered from place to place in Italy. But he had no money: he began to
think of work. He was learned: he could teach: he thought that he might
be a tutor. Shall I go on?"

"Good God!" said Percival, below his breath. He had actually turned
pale, and was biting his moustache savagely. "Go on, sir!" he thundered,
looking at Dino from beneath his knitted brows. "Tell me the rest as
quickly as you can."

"He met with an English family," Dino continued, watching with keen
interest the effect of his words. "They were kind to him: they took him,
without character, without recommendations, and allowed him to teach
their children. He did not know who they were: he thought that they were
rich people, and that the young lady who was so dutiful to them, and
cared so tenderly for their children, was poor like himself, a dependent
like himself. He dared, therefore----"

"He lies and you lie!" Percival burst out, furiously. "How dare you come
to me with a tale of this sort? He must have known! It was simply a base
deception in order to get back his estate. If I had him here----"

"If you had him here you would listen to him, Mr. Heron," said Dino, in
a perfectly unmoved voice, "as you will listen to me when the first
shock of your surprise is over."

"Your garb, I suppose, protects you," said Percival, sharply. "Else I
would throw you out of the window to join your accomplice outside. I
daresay he is there. I don't believe a word of your story. May I trouble
you to go?"

"This conduct is unworthy of you, sir," said Dino. "Brian Luttrell's
identity will not be disproved by bluster. There is not the least doubt
about it. Mr. Brian Luttrell is alive and has been teaching in your
father's family for the last few months under the name of John
Stretton."

"Then he is a scoundrel," said Percival. He threw himself into his chair