Orso somewhat surprised Miss Nevil by his general condemnation of the undying hatreds nursed by his fellow-countrymen.
As regarded the peasants, however, he endeavoured to excuse them, and claimed that the _vendetta_ is the poor man's duel.

"So true is this," he said, "that no assassination takes place till a formal challenge has been delivered.

'Be on your guard yourself, I am on mine!' are the sacramental words exchanged, from time immemorial, between two enemies, before they begin to lie in wait for each other.

There are more assassinations among us," he added, "than anywhere else.

But you will never discover an ignoble cause for any of these crimes.