"So far as that vile monk is concerned, I promise you on my life. But have you no suspicion of other people?" "Yes, I have," said Mila, after a moment's reflection. "You mentioned at the fountain a name that frightened me terribly. You spoke as if you had some relations with the Piccinino. But you said to me again after that: 'Come without fear,' and I came. Not without fear, I admit, so long as I was alone on the road. I fancy that I shall be afraid again when I go away from here; but, as long as I am with you, I am not afraid of anything; I feel very brave, and it seems to me that, if we were attacked, I could help in defending ourselves." "Even against the Piccinino?" "Ah! I don't know about that. But, great heaven! is he likely to come here?" "If he should come, it would be to punish the monk and protect you. Why in heaven's name are you so terribly afraid of him?" "Really, I don't know; but among us, when a girl goes out into the country alone, people make sport of her and say: 'Look out for the Piccinino!'" "So you think that he murders young maids, do you?" "Yes, monsignor; for they say that they never come back from the place he takes them to; or, if they do come back, that it would have been better for them to have stayed." "And you hate him, I suppose?" "No, I do not hate him, because they say that he inflicts much injury on the Neapolitans, and that if people only had the courage to help him he would do the country a great deal of good. But I am afraid of him, which is not the same thing by any means." "You have been told that he was very ugly, I suppose?" "Yes, because he has a long beard, and I think that he must resemble the monk I detest so. But isn't the monk coming? When he has come I can go away, can I not, monsignor?" "Are you in a hurry to go, Mila? do you find it so very unpleasant here?" "Oh! not at all; but I should be afraid to go home after dark." "I will take you home." "You are very good, monsignor; I ask nothing better, provided that nobody sees us. But about this Abbé Ninfo, are you going to do him any injury?" "No injury. I presume that it would give you no pleasure to hear him shriek?" "God in heaven! I do not want to see or be the cause of any cruel treatment of the man; but if the Piccinino comes here, I am terribly afraid there will be bloodshed. You smile, monsignor," said Mila, turning pale. "Oh! now I am afraid! Pray send me away as soon as the abbé has set foot in the house." "Mila, I swear to you that the abbé shall suffer no cruelty at my hands. As soon as I have made sure of his person, the Piccinino will come and take him away, a prisoner." "And is all this done by the Princess Agatha's orders?" "You ought to know." "In that case, my mind is at ease. She would not desire the death of the lowest of men." "You are very compassionate, Mila; I thought that you were stronger and prouder. So you would not have the courage to kill that man if he should come here and insult you?"