She looked into his eyes and smiled as he had seen her smile once or twice before in his life. His memory all came back now. He knew that she ought not to have been there, since her father was away. His expression changed suddenly.
"What is the matter?" asked Marietta. "Does it hurt very much?"
"No," he said. "I was thinking—" He checked himself, and glanced at the porter.
A distant knocking was heard at the outer door, Pasquale shuffled off to see who was there.
"I will wager that it is the surgeon!" he grumbled. "Evil befall his soul! We do not want him."
"What were you going to say?" asked Marietta, bending down. "There is only Nella here now."
"Nella should not have let you come," said Zorzi. "If it is known, your father will be very angry."
"Ah, do you see?" cried Nella, rising, for she had finished. "Did I not tell you so, my pretty lady? And if your brother finds out that you have been here he will go into a fury like a wild beast! I told you so! And as for your help, indeed, I could have brought another woman, and there was Pasquale, too. I suppose he has hands. Oh, there will be a beautiful revolution in the house when this is known!"
But Marietta did not mean to acknowledge that she had done anything but what was perfectly right and natural under the circumstances; to admit that would have been to confess that she had not come merely out of pity and human kindness.
"It is absurd," she said with a little indignation. "I shall tell my brother myself that Zorzi was hurt, and that I helped you to dress his wound. And what is more, Nella, you will have to come; again, and I shall come with you as often as I please. All Murano may know it for anything I care."