towards the hospice; and, though of necessity their progress and actions, for several hours after quitting the latter place, were not brought within the observation of any but of that all-seeing eye which commands a view of the recesses of the Alps equally with those of more frequented spots, their arrival at the abode of the monks was sufficiently seasonable to give reason to believe that no portion of the intervening time had been wasted by the way.  Thus far their account of themselves and their movements was distinct, while, on the other hand, there was not a single fact to implicate either, beyond the suspicion that was more or less common to all who happened to be on the mountain at the moment the crime was committed.

“The innocence of these two men would seem so clear, and their readiness to appear and answer to our questions is so much in their favor,” observed the experienced chatelain, “that I do not deem it just to detain them longer.  The pilgrim, in particular, has a heavy trust; I understand he performs his penance as much for others as for himself, and it is scarce decent in us, who are believers and servants of the church, to place obstacles in his path.  I will suggest the expediency, therefore, of giving him at least permission to depart.”

“As we are near the end of the inquiries,” interrupted the Signor Grimaldi, gravely, “I would suggest, with due deference to a better opinion and more experience, the propriety that all should remain, ourselves included, until we have come to a better understanding of the truth.”

Both Pippo and the pilgrim met this suggestion with ready declarations of their willingness to continue at the convent until the following morning.  This little concession, however, had no great merit, for the lateness of the hour rendered it imprudent to depart immediately; and the; affair was finally settled by ordering them to retire, it being understood that, unless previously called for, they might depart with the reappearance of the dawn.  Maso was the next and the last to be examined.

Il Maledetto presented himself with perfect steadiness of nerve.  He was accompanied by Nettuno, the mastiffs of the convent having been kennelled for the night.  It had been the habit of the dog of late to stray among the rocks by day, and to return to the convent in the evening in quest of food, the sterile St. Bernard possessing nothing whatever for the support of man or beast except that which came from the liberality of the monks, every animal but the chamois and the laemmergeyer refusing to ascend so near the region of eternal snows.  In his master, however, Nettuno found a steady friend, never failing to receive all that was necessary to his wants from the portion of Maso himself; for the faithful beast was admitted at his periodical visits to the temporary prison in which the latter was confined.

The chatelain waited; a moment for the little stir occasioned by the entrance of the prisoner to subside, when he pursued the inquiry.