"Si, Signore. They were beside me in the crowd."
"Was he alone with his mother?"
"Si, Signore. Quite alone."
"Gaspare, I have seen Ruffo"s mother."
Gaspare looked startled.
"Truly, Signore?"
"Yes. I saw her with him one day at the Mergellina. She was crying."
"Perhaps she is unhappy. Her husband is in prison."
"Because of Peppina."
"Si."
"And to-night you spoke to her for the first time?"
Artois laid a strong emphasis on the final words.
"Signore, I have never met her with Ruffo before."
The two men looked steadily at each other. A question that could not be evaded, a question that would break like a hammer upon a mutual silence of years, was almost upon Artois" lips. Perhaps Gaspare saw it, for he got up with determination.
"I am going to bed now, Signore. I am tired. Buona notte, Signore."
He took up his hat and went out.
Artois had not asked his question. But he felt that it was answered.
Gaspare knew. And he knew.
And Hermione--did Fate intend that she should know?
CHAPTER x.x.xI
It was nearly dawn when Artois fell asleep. He did not wake till past ten o"clock. The servant who brought his breakfast handed him a note, and told him that the ladies of the island had just left the hotel with Gaspare. As Artois took the note he was conscious of a mingled feeling of relief and disappointment. This swift, almost hurried departure left him lonely, yet he could not have met Hermione and Vere happily in the light of morning. To-day he felt a self-consciousness that was unusual in him, and that the keen eyes of women could not surely fail to observe. He wanted a little time. He wanted to think quietly, calmly, to reach a decision that he had not reached at night.
Hermione and Vere had a very silent voyage. Gaspare"s tragic humor cast a cloud about his mistresses. He had met them in the morning with a look of heavy, almost sullen scrutiny in his great eyes, which seemed to develop into a definite demand for information. But he asked nothing.
He made no allusion to the night before. To Vere his manner was almost cold. When they were getting into the boat at Santa Lucia she said, with none of her usual simplicity and self-possession, but like one making an effort which was repugnant:
"I"m very sorry about last night, Gaspare."
"It doesn"t matter, Signorina."
"Did you get back very late?"
"I don"t know, Signora. I did not look at the hour."
She looked away from him and out to sea.
"I am very sorry," she repeated.
And he again said:
"It doesn"t matter, Signorina."
It was nearly noon when they drew near to the island. The weather was heavily hot, languidly hot even upon the water. There was a haze hanging over the world in which distant objects appeared like unsubstantial clouds, or dream things impregnated with a mystery that was mournful.
The voice of a fisherman singing not far off came to them like the voice of Fate, issuing from the ocean to tell them of the sadness that was the doom of men. Behind them Naples sank away into the vaporous distance.
Vesuvius was almost blotted out, Capri an ethereal silhouette. And their little island, even when they approached it, did not look like the solid land on which they had made a home, but like the vague sh.e.l.l of some substance that had been destroyed, leaving its former abiding-place untenanted.
As they pa.s.sed San Francesco Vere glanced at him, and Hermione saw a faint flush of red go over her face. Directly the boat touched the rock she stepped ash.o.r.e, and without waiting for her mother ran up the steps and disappeared towards the house. Gaspare looked after her, then stared at his Padrona.
"Is the Signorina ill?" he asked.
"No, Gaspare. But I think she is tired to-day and a little upset. We had better take no notice of it."
"Va bene, Signora."
He busied himself in making fast the boat, while Hermione followed Vere.
In the afternoon about five, when Hermione was sitting alone in her room writing some letters, Gaspare appeared with an angry and suspicious face.
"Signora," he said, "that Signore is here."
"What Signore? The Marchese!"
"Si, Signora."
Gaspare was watching his Padrona"s face, and suddenly his own face changed, lightened, as he saw the look that had come into her eyes.
"I did not know whether you wished to see him--"
"Yes, Gaspare, I will see him. You can let him in. Wait a moment. Where is the Signorina?"
"Up in her room, Signora."
"You can tell her who is here, and ask her whether she wishes to have tea in her room or not."
"Si, Signora."
Gaspare went out almost cheerfully. He felt that now he understood what his Padrona was feeling and what she meant to do. She meant to do in her way what he wanted to do in his. He ran down the steps to the water with vivacity, and his eyes were shining as he came to the Marchesino, who was standing at the edge of the sea looking almost feverishly excited, but determined.
"The Signora will see you, Signor Marchese."