"'Maria never left the house,' said the young man, 'and if you don't get out of it this moment, I won't answer for your ever leaving, either.'
"'In God's name,' I cried, exasperated, 'what do you mean?'
"The man turned and threw the blue cushions off the foot of the silver couch.
"'Have you ever examined the toes of this?' he asked.
"'Not particularly,' I said, more and more astonished. 'Why should I?'
"'Did you ever know Loder make any figure of her but this with that short toe on the left foot?' he went on.
"Well, I did take a look at it then, and saw it was as he said—the left foot had a short second toe.
"'So it is,' I said, 'but, after all, why not?'
"'Why not, indeed?' said the young man. 'Wouldn't you like to see why, of all the figures Loder made of Maria Morano, this is the only one that has the feet of the living woman?'
"He picked up the poker.