Fortunato Falcone

Fortunato Falcone is Mateo's ten-year-old son. His father regards him as "the hope of the family." The name Fortunato, meaning "the fortunate one," reflects his father's pride. Before the wounded Gianetto appears at the family home, Fortunato had been daydreaming about the meal that he is to eat with his wealthy uncle in Corte in a few days. Fortunato shows little human feeling towards the hunted Gianetto and agrees to hide him only when bribed with a piece of silver. When Tiodoro offers him a watch in exchange for information about Gianneto, Fortunato eyes it "just as a cat does when a whole chicken is offered to it" and gives away the bandit's hiding place. On the other hand, once he has divulged Gianetto's hiding place, Fortunato returns the silver.

Giuseppa Falcone

Giuseppa is the wife of Mateo Falcone and the mother of Fortunato. Merimee discloses few...