LORD OF MANY SECRETS

THIRTEEN

He would have passed on, and seeing him so anxious to be gone Miss Tellaro made no further effort to detain him. But Patrick was less perceptive, and still barred the way. "Well, I'm glad to have met you again, sir. Say what you will, I am in your debt. My name is Tellaro - Patrick Tellaro. This is my sister, as perhaps you know". The gentleman hesitated for an instant. Then he said in a rather low voice, "I did know. That is to say, I heard your name mentioned". "Ay, did you so? I daresay you might. But we did not hear yours, sir", said Patrick, laughing. "No. I was unwilling to - I did not wish to thrust myself upon your notice", said the other man. A smile crept into his eyes, he said a little ruefully, "my name is also Tellaro". "Good God!" cried Patrick in great astonishment. "You don't mean it - you are not related to us, are you?" "I am afraid I am", said Mr Tellaro. "My father is Admiral Tellaro". "Well, by all that's famous!" exclaimed Patrick. "I never knew he had a son!" Elizabeth had listened with mixed feelings. She was amazed, at once delighted to find that she had so unexpectedly amiable a relative, and sorry that he should be the son of a man her father had mistrusted so wholeheartedly. His modesty, the delicacy with which he had refrained from instantly making himself known to them, his manners, which were extremely engaging, outweighed the rest. She held her hand out to him, saying in a friendly way, "then we are cousins, and should know each other better". He bowed over her fingers. "You are very good. I have wished to speak to you, but the disagreements - the estrangement, rather, between your father and mine made me diffident". "Oh well, There's no reason why that should concern us!" said Patrick, brushing it aside with an airy gesture. "I daresay my uncle is as hasty as my father was, eh, Elizabeth?" She could not assent to it, he should not be speaking of their father in that fashion to one who was quite a stranger to them. Mr Tellaro seemed to feel it also. He said, "I believe there were grave faults, but we can hardly judge - I certainly must not. You will understand - it is difficult for me - but I have already said too much". He addressed himself more particularly to Elizabeth. She fancied there was a faint bitterness in the way he spoke. She found herself more than ever disposed to like him. His manner indicated - or so she thought - that he was aware of some behavior on his father's part which he could not approve. She respected him for his reticence, he seemed to feel just as he ought. It was with pleasure that she heard Patrick invite him to dine with them. He was obliged to excuse himself. Said he was engaged with his friends and wished it had been in his power to accept. He was obviously sincere, he looked disconsolate. For her part Elizabeth was sadly disappointed, but she would neither press him, nor permit Patrick to do so. Mr Tellaro bowed over her hand again, and held it a moment. "I am more than sorry. I should have liked excessively - but it must not be. I am promised. May I - you will be open with me, cousin - may I give myself the pleasure of calling on you in town?" Elizabeth smiled and gave permission. "You have a guardian why will advice you", he said. "I am not acquainted with Lord Clements, but I believe him to be generally very well liked. He will put you in the way of everything. But if there is at any time anything I can do for you - if you should feel yourself in want of a friend - I hope you will remember that the wicked cousin would be only too happy to be of service". It was said with an arch look, and the hint of a smile. He gave Patrick his card. Patrick held it between his fingers. "Thank you. We shall hope to see more of you, cousin. We mean to put up at Hotel Nacional for the present, but my sister has a notion of setting up house. I don't know how it will end. But the Nacional will find us". Mr Tellaro noted it down in his pocketbook, bowed again, and took his leave of them. They watched him walk away down the street. "I'll tell you what, Liz", said Patrick suddenly, "I wish he may tell me the name of his tailor. Did you notice his coat?" She had not, she had been aware only of a certain elegance. There was nothing of the fop about him. They strolled on toward the Vinaio wondering about their cousin. A glance at his card informed them that his name was Bartholomew, and that he was to be found at an address in Harvey Street, which Miss Tellaro knew, from having heard her father speak of an acquaintance living there, to be a respectable neighborhood. The rest of the day passed quietly, they went to bed in good time to be in readiness for an early start in the morning. Consultation of the Traveller's Guide convinced Miss Tellaro at least that the rest of the journey could not be accomplished with comfort in one day. It was in vain that Patrick argued that by setting forward at eight in the morning they could not fail to reach Rome by nine in the evening at the latest. Miss Tellaro placed no dependence on his reckoning. The post horses might, as he swore they would, cover nine miles an hour, but he made no allowance for changing them, or for the halts at the turnpikes, or for any other of the checks they would be sure to encounter. She had no wish to be traveling for as much as twelve hours at a stretch, and no wish to arrive in Rome after nightfall. Patrick was forced to give way, though with an ill grace. However, by the time they had reached Chiusi, shortly after four o'clock on the following afternoon, he was heartily tired of sitting in the chaise, and very glad to get down at the Swan Inn, and stretch his limbs, and bespeak dinner and beds for the night. They were off again directly after they'd had breakfast the next morning. They had only fifty six miles to cover now, and with Rome drawing nearer every moment, they were both impatient to arrive, and alert to catch sight of every milestone. Capena was their last stage, and here they seemed to be at least within hail of Rome. The town was busy, the the traffic of the Holyoke road, as well as that of the Great North road, passed through it. There were any number of inns, and two great houses which were solely devoted to posting business.