“You perhaps imagine,” said Favello, “that you are speaking of circumstances with which I am not at all acquainted; but you are mistaken. I am particularly intimate with two of your cousins, who have more than once conversed with me respecting your father. They have told me that he was a shrewd intelligent man: that he was taken prisoner by an Algerine Corsair, and that after having recovered his liberty through the love which a lady at Algiers conceived for him, he went to Seville in search of his correspondent, where he captivated a lady of quality and married her. You are then the son of that illustrious house?” “At your service,” replied I, smiling again. “Know then,” continued he, “that Signor Don Bertrand, your father’s eldest brother, is full of years, still unmarried, and one of the richest nobles in Genoa.” “You tell me what I was ignorant of,” said I; “for I have never seen him, and my mother never had any correspondence with him.” “I am surprised,” said he, “that you have not already made yourself known to him. Your relations are certainly of great consequence in this country, and I know not what should prevent your seeing them.” “What would you have me do?” answered I; “would you have me announce my name before people who do not know me, and who will naturally be apt to discredit what a man says who has only his own word as a security. No no, I stand in no need of their acquaintance, for I want nothing of them. Let us remain as we are. Though they should know that I am here, as a stranger, it is not for me to make the first advances.” “You are right,” said Favello, “but allow me to call and apprise them to-morrow morning of your arrival. I am persuaded that I shall no sooner have informed them than they will behave with proper attention towards you.” “You are a man of prudence and good understanding,” replied I, to the captain, “and may therefore do what you think best. Only recollect to put no restraint on their inclinations, for it is by no means my wish to intrude myself on their acquaintance.”