“Why does he pick pockets? Is he so poor?” she demanded abruptly, paying no attention.
“Oh, it was not he, madama,” said the younger woman, with a laugh; “it was not he. Probably he picked it up; what did he say? As for being poor—yes. But he would not steal, not Cesare!”
Donna Teresa, asking no more questions, walked, frowning, towards the church. Wilbraham, relieved that this part of the episode was ended, remarked—
“You won’t find Miss Brodrick.”
She stopped with a laugh.
“I had forgotten. I suppose I was walking mechanically. Where is she then?”
“She drove away with a lady, and asked me to look after you. I wish I had reached you a little earlier.”
“Oh, it did well enough,” said the marchesa absently.
“I hope you didn’t lose much?”
“What you would call nothing. I ought to have been more careful, for the churches swarm with pickpockets, and the police are quite useless, as you saw.”