’He will have left other traitors behind him, though none as bad as himself,’ said Trevelyan.

Stanbury, when his cigar was finished, rose and left the husband and wife together on the terrace.  There was little enough to be seen at Casalunga, but he strolled about looking at the place.  He went into the huge granary, and then down among the olive trees, and up into the sheds which had been built for beasts.  He stood and teased the lizards, and listened to the hum of the insects, and wiping away the perspiration which rose to his brow even as he was standing.  And all the while he was thinking what he would do next, or what say next, with the view of getting Trevelyan away from the place.  Hitherto he had been very tender with him, contradicting him in nothing, taking from him good humouredly any absurd insult which he chose to offer, pressing upon him none of the evil which he had himself occasioned, saying to him no word that could hurt either his pride or his comfort.  But he could not see that this would be efficacious for the purpose desired.  He had come thither to help Nora’s sister in her terrible distress, and he must take upon himself to make some plan for giving this aid.  When he had thought of all this and made his plan, he sauntered back round the house on to the terrace.  She was still there, sitting at her husband’s feet, and holding one of his hands in hers.  It was well that the wife should be tender, but he doubted whether tenderness would suffice.

‘Trevelyan,’ he said, ‘you know why I have come over here?’

‘I suppose she told you to come,’ said Trevelyan.

’Well; yes; she did tell me.  I came to try and get you back to England.  If you remain here, the climate and solitude together will kill you.’

’As for the climate, I like it, and as for the solitude, I have got used even to that.’

‘And then there is another thing,’ said Stanbury.

‘What is that?’ asked Trevelyan, starting.

‘You are not safe here.’

‘How not safe?’

‘She could not tell you, but I must.’  His wife was still holding his hand, and he did not at once attempt to withdraw it; but he raised himself in his chair, and fixed his eyes fiercely on Stanbury.  ’They will not let you remain here quietly,’ said Stanbury.

‘Who will not?’

’The Italians.  They are already saying that you are not fit to be alone; and if once they get you into their hands under some Italian medical board, perhaps into some Italian asylum, it might be years before you could get out, if ever.  I have come to tell you what the danger is.  I do not know whether you will believe me.’

‘Is it so?’ he said, turning to his wife.

‘I believe it is, Louis.’

‘And who has told them?  Who has been putting them up to it?’ Now his hand had been withdrawn.  ’My God, am I to be followed here too with such persecution as this?’

‘Nobody has told them, but people have eyes.’