.

Percival puffed away at his pipe for a minute or two, and surveyed him
from head to foot with angry, contemptuous eyes. The only thing that
prevented him from letting loose a storm of rage upon Dino's head was
the young man's air of grave simplicity and good faith. He did not look
like an intentional impostor, such as Percival Heron would gladly have
believed him to be.

"Do you know," inquired Heron, after a momentary pause, "what the
penalties are for attempting to extort money, or for passing yourself
off under a false name in order to get property? Did you ever hear of
the Claimant and Portland Prison? I would advise you to acquaint
yourself with these details before you come to me again. You may be more
fool than knave; but you may carry your foolery or your knavery
elsewhere."

Dino smiled.

"You had better hear the rest of my story before you indulge in these
idle threats, Mr. Heron. I know perfectly well what I am doing."

There was a tone of lofty assurance, almost of superiority, in Dino's
calm voice, which galled Percival, because he felt that it had the power
of subduing him a little. Before he had thought of a rejoinder, the
young Benedictine resumed his story.

"You will say rightly enough that these were not proofs. So Padre
Cristoforo said when he kept me in the monastery until I came to years
of discretion. So he told Brian Luttrell when he came to San Stefano.
But since that day new witnesses have arisen. Vincenza Vasari was not
dead: she had only disappeared for a time. She is now found, and she is
prepared to swear to the truth of the story that I have told you. Mrs.
Luttrell's suspicions, the statement made by Vincenza's husband and
mother, the confession of another woman who was Vincenza's accomplice,
all form corroborative evidence which will, I think, be quite sufficient
to prove the case. So, at least, Messrs. Brett and Grattan assure me,
and they have gone carefully into the matter, and have the original
papers in their possession."

"Brett and Grattan!" repeated Percival. He knew the names. "Do you say
that Brett and Grattan have taken it up? You must have managed matters
cleverly: Brett and Grattan are a respectable firm."

"You are at liberty, of course, to question them. You may, perhaps,
credit their statement."

"I will certainly go to them and expose this imposture," said Percival,
haughtily. "I suppose you have no objection," with a hardly-concealed
sneer, "to go with me