"It was an accident," said the latter. "I was in the main furnace room with your brother. The blow-pipe with the hot glass slipped from a man's hand. Your brother saw it—he will tell you."
"I have been porter here for five-and-twenty years," retorted Pasquale, "and there have been several accidents in that time. But I never heard of one like that."
"It was nothing else," said Zorzi.
His voice was weak. Nella had finished collecting her belongings. Marietta saw that she could not stay any longer at present, and she went once more to Zorzi's side.
"Let Pasquale take care of you to-day," she said. "I will come and see how you are to-morrow morning."
"I thank you," he answered. "I thank you with all my heart. I have no words to tell you how much."
"You need none," said she quietly. "I have done nothing. It is Nella who has helped you."
"Nella knows that I am very grateful."
"Of course, of course!" answered the woman kindly. "You have made him talk too much," she added, speaking to Marietta. "Let us go away. I must prepare the barley water. It takes a long time."
"Is he to have nothing but barley water?" asked Pasquale.