"That, of course."
"A hundred-lire note!" To Bettina this was an enormous sum in these unfortunate days. Her resolution wavered. "A hundred-lire note!" She felt that she could make no strong defense against such an assault.
Hillard drew the note from his pocket and crinkled it. "A new dress and bits of lace."
Bettina saw duty one way and avarice the other. Her mistress would never know. Still, if she should find out that she, Bettina, had betrayed her! Was a hundred-lire note worth the risk of losing her mistress? She began to think deeply. At length she shook her head sorrowfully.
"No, signore. I dare not."
"But a hundred lire!"
"Ah, no, no!" Bettina put her hands over her ears.
"Then I shall follow you step by step, all the day long."
She searched for the jest in his eyes, but there was none. Yes, he would do it. How was she to escape him? Her glance traveled here and there. By the glass-shop on the corner she espied two carabinieri. There lay the way.
"Do you see them?" she asked.