‘Ostensibly, yes; but you know, and I know, that your real motive was to watch Philip Debenham.’ The stranger smiled significantly. ‘To watch the present master of Ladywell—Madame is right.’ ‘And the motive of this watching is, I presume, not friendship for him?’ The answer did not come so readily as she had expected, and it was still ambiguous. ‘Not friendship—not enmity—simple curiosity.’ ‘Simple curiosity!’ repeated Mrs. Belassis; ‘that is rather hard to believe. Monsieur, you know you had a deeper motive than that. You have admitted as much on two other occasions. You know that a great injustice is being done.’ ‘Madame may be right; but on what grounds does she bring so great an accusation against her kinsman?’ ‘Kinsman!’ she echoed wrathfully; ‘I claim no kin with him. He is a traitor, a false friend, a treacherous foe. I wash my hands of him altogether. He has behaved villainously to me and mine; I would ruin him gladly if I could, and so would you.’ The Italian looked steadily into her flushed face. ‘I am not sure,’ he said slowly, ‘if I would.’ ‘You would if you were a man,’ she said with some scorn. ‘Think of the wrongs your friend is enduring!’ ‘What friend?’ ‘Mr. Torwood. Have you forgotten our conversation of only a few days back? You know better than I do what the wrong is; but I know enough.’ ‘What does Madame know?’ ‘I know that he is keeping his friend hidden away somewhere, in a kind of captivity (unless he has escaped, as I believe you assured me he had), that he has gained possession of his money and the management of his affairs. I have seen with my own eyes that he is spending Mr. Torwood’s money as lavishly as his own. He is behaving scandalously, there can be no doubt whatever of that. If you are a friend of the injured man’s, can you not do something to put a stop to it?’ ‘Why does not Mr. Torwood act for himself?’ ‘How can I tell? Most likely he cannot. _His friend_ has contrived to settle that point satisfactorily. He may be in a madhouse, for aught I know.’ ‘Madame does not _know_ anything, then?’ ‘No, no facts; but I know quite well that evil is going on, and I mean to check it. Monsieur, will you not help me? If you will but tell me what you know, I will be the one to act; I will relieve you of all the burden of responsibility.’ ‘What does Madame wish to know?’ ‘I wish to know where Mr. Torwood is.’ ‘He is not far away from here.’ ‘You mean he is in England?’ ‘Yes, certainly.’ ‘And near this place?’ ‘Quite near.’ Mrs. Belassis looked eager and triumphant. ‘Monsieur is not jesting?’ ‘By no means. I do but speak the truth.’ ‘Can he be at Ladywell—in the village?’ ‘Madame is right. He is at Ladywell; he has been there for some time.’ Mrs. Belassis stared at him. ‘At Ladywell? And I have never seen him!’ The Italian smiled significantly. ‘I never said Madame had not seen him.’ Mrs. Belassis began to grow excited. ‘Signor Pagliadini, are _you_ Mr. Torwood?’