“Are they not protecting one who is suspected of a serious crime? If discovered they would be punished,” was the quiet response.
“Ah! There is some hidden motive behind all this!” declared the young Englishman. “I rather regret that I did not remain and face the music.”
“It would have been far too dangerous, signore. Your enemies would have contrived to convict you of the crime.”
“My enemies—but who are they?”
“Of that, signore, I am ignorant. Only I have been told that you have enemies, and very bitter ones.”
“But I have committed no crime, and yet I am a fugitive from justice!” Hugh cried.
“You escaped in the very nick of time,” the man replied. “But had we not better be moving again? We must be in Genoa by daybreak.”
“But do, I beg of you, tell me more,” the young man implored. “To whom do I owe my liberty?”
“As I have already told you, signore, you owe it to those who intend to protect you from a false charge.”
“Yes. But there is a lady in the case,” Hugh said. “I fear that if she hears that I am a fugitive she will misjudge me and believe me to be guilty.”