‘Perhaps.’
‘Why?’
‘One day, if I get to know you better, I may tell you.’
‘Is it because of something he has done — something he has done to you?’ Her voice was eager, questing, as though she wanted the power that I possessed.
‘Why do you ask?’ I said. ‘Don’t you like him?’
The taxi stopped with a jerk. She was looking straight into my face, her eyes very wide and luminous. ‘I hate him,’ she breathed. Then the door was opened and she got out. ‘Don’t forget — if you come to Napoli I am at the Villa Carlotta.’
‘No,’ I said. ‘I won’t forget. Good night.’
‘Buona notte.’ She blew me a kiss and was gone, swallowed by a big modern block of flats.
‘Whereto, signore?’
‘Albergo Excelsior.’