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"He has suspected, indeed! I know the signor Roderick too well

myself, not to need to be told that he is incorrigible in such

matters!"

"That Roderick, signor uncle, may have had some trifling

conversation with this girl, I can very well believe; he is

young, and, moreover, not a capuchin,-but these are idle tales,

not worth engaging your attention. The serious part of the affair

is, that the friar speaks of Roderick as if he were a villain,

and instigates all the country against him--"

"And the other friars?"

"They do not meddle with it, because they know him to be

hot-headed, though they have great respect for Roderick; but

then, on the other hand, the friar passes for a saint with the

villagers, and--"

"I imagine he does not know Roderick is my nephew."

"Does he not know it? it is that, precisely, which animates him

to this course of conduct."

"How? how?"