Sor Beppe shook his head. "Concetta made no mistake," he replied, doggedly. "What she heard, she heard not once only, but many times. Donna Bianca is to marry the baron; and the princess believes by consenting to the marriage she will prevent the principessina from marrying the other—the son of the Roman professor. But in the mean time, Concetta tells me that the principessina has found out the intrigue, and has realized that her uncle wants to make love to her. How Concetta has learned that, I do not know. Perhaps from the Principessina Bianca's maid—or perhaps she has heard Donna Bianca talking to herself in her own room."
Don Agostino turned his head with a movement of impatience. "One would imagine," he said, "that the walls of the castle had ears."
Sor Beppe glanced at him with a curious expression in his eyes. "The castle was not built yesterday," he observed, enigmatically.
Don Agostino looked round. "What do you mean to imply?" he asked, quickly.
The other laughed. "Only this," he replied; "that there are those who know their way about the castle of Montefiano better than its owners—better than its present owners, at all events. The late prince knew—oh, very well, if all the stories are true! But nobody in the castle now has an idea—except myself and my children—"
"An idea of what?" asked Don Agostino. "Andiamo, Signor Fontana, do not let us play at mysteries! It seems that your castle is a dangerous place for confidential conversations."
"And a convenient place for clandestine meetings," added Fontana. "It used to be said that the late prince found it so—blessed soul!"
The suspicion of a smile played round Don Agostino's lips. Then he seemed as though a sudden thought struck him, and he looked at his visitor inquiringly.
"What do you mean?" he exclaimed, almost sharply. "You need not be afraid that anything you say to me will be repeated in the paese."
Sor Beppe got up from his chair. "Of course you do not understand," he said. "How should you? Well, I will tell you how it is that it is not always safe to talk secrets in the castle. One should know where one is—oh, decidedly! I will tell you something, reverendo, and then, perhaps, you will understand better. If I chose, this very night I could enter the sleeping apartment of the principessina without a soul being any the wiser—yes, even if all the doors of the rooms on the piano nobile were locked. No one would see me enter that wing of the castle or leave it. Concetta could do the same."