"Did you tell Sir Simon this when you saw him on that night?"
The Italian started up in some alarm. "What? You say I was with this English miser when he died?"
"No, I don't say that. But I say you were at the house on that very night, and about the time the murder was committed. For all I know, signor, you may be able to say who killed him."
Guiseppe, twisting his hat in his hands, looked keenly at Durham with his dark eyes. "Signor, be explicit," he said.
"I'll explain myself thoroughly," said Durham. "You can sit down again, signor. Bernard," he continued, when the Italian obeyed this request, "inherits his grandfather's property, and, of course the title. He wants to help you, and proposes to give you five hundred a year as soon as possible."
"Ah! That is good of him," said Tolomeo, gratefully.
"But," went on Durham, with emphasis, "Bernard cannot give you this income until he is formally put in possession of the estate; and he cannot take possession of the estate until he is cleared from this charge of murder. Now you can help me to clear him."
"Signor," said the Italian at once, "I thought Bernard was dead; that, as the papers said, he had been drowned crossing the river. But now that I know he is alive, you can command my services without money. All the same," added Tolomeo, smiling and showing his white teeth, "a little five hundred a year will make me a great lord in Siena, to which town I shall return."
"After helping Bernard?" warned Durham.
"Of course. I will not leave the country till Bernard is seated in his proper place, and married—I understand he is to be married."