"You  understand,"  said  Linton,  **  that  when  you  have  written  the
name  Roland  Cashel,  and  are  asked  if  that  be  your  act  and  deed,  you
have  simply  to  say  *  Yes,'  a  bow,  a  mere  nod,  indeed,  is  sufficient."

"  I  understand,"  said  he,  thoughtfully,  as  if  reflecting  over  the
matter  with  himself.  "  I  conclude  then,"  added  he,  after  a  pause,
"  that  the  sooner  I  leave  the  country  afterwards,  the  better — I  mean  the
safer — for  me.*'

"  As  to  any  positive  danger,"  said  Linton,  affecting  an  easy  careless-
ness, "  there  is  none.  The  document  is  merely  a  copy  of  one  already
signed  by  Mr.  Cashel,  but  which  I  have  mislaid,  and  I  am  so  ashamed
of  my  negligence  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  confess  it."


EOLAND   CASHEL.  357

This  tame  explanation  Linton  was  unable  to  finish  without  faltering,
for  the  Italian's  keen  and  piercing"  dark  eyes  seemed  to  penetrate  into
him  as  he  was  speaking,

"  With  this  I  have  nothing  to  do,"  said  he,  abruptly.  "  It  is  quite
clear,  however,  that  Giovanni  Santini  is  not  Roland  Cashel ;  nor,  if  there
he  a  penalty  on  what  I  have  done,  am  I  so  certain  that  he  whose  name
J  shall  have  forged  will  undergo  it  in  my  place."

"  You  talk  of  forgery  and  penalties  as  if  we  were  about  to  commit  a
felony,"  said  Linton,  laughing.  "  Pray  give  me  the  cream.  There  is
really  no  such  peril  in  the  case,  and  if  there  were  it  would  be  all
mine."

"  I  know  nothing  of  your  laws  here — I  desire  to  know  nothing  of
them,"  said  the  Italian,  haughtily ;  "  but  if  it  should  be  my  lot  to  be
arraigned,  let  it  be  for  something  more  worthy  of  manhood.  I'll  sign
the  paper,  but  I  shall  leave  the  country  at  once."

No  words  could  have  been  more  grateful  to  Linton's  ears  than  these.
