“You have seen the two men, Beratinsky and Reitzei, who were of the ballot along with Lind and the Englishman.  To me they are but names.  Describe them to me.”

“Beratinsky,” said Calabressa, promptly, “a bear—­surly, pig-headed; Reitzei, a fop—­sinuous, petted.”

“Which would be the more easily started, for example?” the tall man said, with a smile.

“Oh, your Excellency, leave that to me,” Calabressa answered.  “Give me no definite instructions:  am I not a volunteer?—­can I not do as I please, always with the risk that one may knock me over the head if I am impertinent?”

“Well, then, if you leave it to your discretion, friend Calabressa, to your ingenuity, and your desire to have justice without bias, have you money?”

“Not at all, Excellenza.”

“The Secretary Granaglia will communicate with you this evening.  You can start at once?”

“By the direct train to-morrow morning at seven.  Excellenza.”  Then he added, “Oh, the devil!”

“What now?”

“There was a young fellow, Excellenza, committed the imprudence of dogging my footsteps this afternoon.  I know him.  I stopped him and referred him to the captain of the schooner La Svezia:  he was to bring me the receipt to morrow.”

“Never mind,” said the general, laughing; “we will look after him when he goes on board.  Now do you understand, friend Calabressa, the great delicacy of the mission the Council have intrusted to you?  You must be patient, sure, unbiassed; and if, as I imagine, Lind and you were not the best of friends at one time in your life, you must forget all that.  You are not going as the avenger of his daughter; you are going as the minister of justice—­only you have power behind you; that you can allow to be known indirectly.  Do you understand?”

“It is as clear as the noonday skies.  Confide in me, Excellenza.”  The other rose.

“Use speed, my Calabressa.  Farewell!”

“One word, Excellenza.  If it is not too great a favor, the hotel where my beautiful Natalushka and her mother are staying?”

The other gave him the name of the hotel; and Calabressa, saluting him respectfully, departed, making his way down through the terraces of fruit-trees under the clear twilight skies.

Calabressa walked back to Naples, and to the hotel indicated, which was near the Castello dell’ Ovo.  No sooner had the hotel porter opened for him the big swinging doors than he recollected that he did not know for whom he ought to ask; but at this moment Natalie came along the corridor, dressed and ready to go out.

“My little daughter!” he exclaimed, taking her by both hands, “did not I say you would soon find me when there was need?”

“Will you come up-stairs and see my mother, Signor Calabressa?” said she.  “You know why she and I are together now?—­my grandfather is dead.”

“Yes, I will go and see your mother,” said he, after a second:  she did not notice the strange expression of his face during that brief hesitation.