Ragna paled, and her head fell back against the wooden support of the awning. Ferrati hastily summoned a waiter, and bade him bring a glass of cognac, which he made the girl take. The colour slowly crept back to her lips and cheeks; she made one or two efforts to speak, but was only able to swallow convulsively; finally in a husky voice she asked:
"How long have you known, suspected—this?"
"For about two months now—suspected, I say—but when I saw you on the boat, I was sure. Of course I may be mistaken, an examination would be necessary to be quite certain—there are tumours—"
"Will you examine me then—to-day? I must know, I must be sure—Oh, my God, I never thought of this!"
He gazed at her curiously, half cynically, yet impressed by her sincerity of manner.
"But surely, you must have known? You are young, Signorina, but you are not a child."
Her eyes fell before his.
"I did not know—I never thought of this!" she repeated dully.
His doubting expression faded before the despairing misery of her pale face.
"No," he thought, "she did not know or she could not look like this."