The Italian said nothing. Apparently his cooking absorbed all his attention. But he gave De Ruyter a searching glance.
Suydam turned to the novelist. "This is Pietro Barretti," he said; "he is one of the most expert layers of mosaic in America. He is from Naples; that's the reason he cooks macaroni so well, I suppose."
"Certainly I haven't seen macaroni cooked that way since I was in Naples last," the novelist remarked, for the sake of talk, not knowing just what to make of the Italian's manner.
"Your wife not here?" asked Suydam.
"No," the Italian answered, abruptly.
"Where is she?" persisted the young man.
"She mort," responded Barretti.
"Dead?" Suydam cried. "That is very sad. When did she die?"
"Ten days," the Italian replied.
When Suydam and De Ruyter had made an end of their visit, and were going down the stairs cautiously, the young man from the University Settlement asked the novelist if he had seen anything interesting.