But Beatrice had acted very differently, very kindly and very generously.  That was because she was naturally so good and gentle, thought Ruggiero.  But the least he had expected was that she would never again speak to him save to give an order, nor say a kind word, no matter what service he rendered her, or what danger he ran for her sake.  And now, a moment ago, she had talked with him with more interest and kindly condescension than she had ever shown before.  He refused, and rightly, to believe that this was because she had needed his help in the matter of the telegram.  She could have called Bastianello, who was in her own service, and Bastianello would have done just as well.  But she had chosen to employ the man who had so rudely forgotten himself before her less than twenty-four hours earlier.  Why?  Ruggiero, little capable, by natural gifts or by experience, of dealing with such questions, found himself face to face with a great problem of the human self, and he knew at once that he could never solve it, try as he might.  His happiness was none the less great, nor his gratitude the less deep and sincere, and with both these grew up instantly in his heart the strong determination to serve her at every turn, so far as lay in his power.

It was not much that he could do, he reflected, unless she would show him the way as she had done this very morning.  But, considering the position of affairs, and her evident distrust of her betrothed, it was not impossible that similar situations might arise before long.  If they did, Ruggiero would be ready, as he had now shown himself, to do her bidding with startling directness and energy.  He was well aware of his physical superiority over every one else in Sorrento, and he was dimly conscious that a threat from him was something which would frighten most men, and which none could afford to overlook.  He remembered poor Don Gennaro’s face just now, when he had quietly told him what he might expect if he did not hold his tongue.  Ruggiero had never valued his life very highly, and since he had loved Beatrice he did not value it a straw.  This state of mind can make a man an exceedingly dangerous person, especially when he is so endowed that he can tear a new horse shoe in two with his hands, and break a five franc piece with his thumbs and forefingers as another man breaks a biscuit.

As Ruggiero came out of the tunnel and reached the platform of rock from which the last part of the descent goes down to the sea in the open air, he stood still a moment and expressed his determination in a low tone.  There was no one near to hear him.

“Whatever she asks,” he said.  “Truly it is of great importance what becomes of me!  If it is a little thing it costs nothing.  If it is a great thing—­well, I will do it if I can.  Then I will say, ’Excellency’—­no—­’Signorina, here it is done.  And I beg to kiss your Excellency’s hand, because I am going to the galleys and you will not see me any more.’  And then they will put me in, and it will be finished, and I shall always have the satisfaction.”