He must be intimate with the count, or the latter would not have invited him to share a retreat seemingly intended to be kept a secret.

He also, I thought, must have some very strong reason for consenting to bury himself in the mountains in company with a father and daughter who could hardly be supposed to be on good terms with each other.
But again, why had he seemed so ready to help me and to forward Nino's suit?
Why had he given me the smallest clue to the count's whereabouts?
Now I am not a strong man in action, but I am a very cunning reasoner.

I remembered the man, and the outrageous opinions he had expressed, both to Nino and to me.

Then I understood my suspicions.

It would be folly to expect such a man to have any real sympathy or sense of friendship for anyone.