Silvio is regarded with great esteem by the narrorator, due to his age and the mystery of his life experience. Though he is regarded so highly, Silvio is petty, as shown in his actions against the Count. In example, Silvio holds a grudge, filled with malice, because the Count is more popular in his regiment than he is. Many may call Silvio "heroic", but this is not so. Silvio allows the Count to live, not out of any upstanding morality, but rather because he is too much of a coward to attempt to take the mans life.