“Yes. He was looking very pale and shaky. The men let him come. They were nice and sympathetic. I think they are fond of the boy.”
“Ruffo seems to know how to attract people to him.”
“Yes.”
“And so Vere played the mother to Ruffo?”
“Yes. I never saw that side of her before. She was a woman then. Eventually Ruffo slept with Gaspare.”
“And how did Gaspare accept the situation?”
“Better than I should have expected. I think he likes Ruffo personally, though he is inclined to be suspicious and jealous of any strangers who come into our lives. But I haven’t had time to talk to him this morning.”
“Is Ruffo still in the house?”
“Oh no. He went off in the boat. They came for him about eight.”
“Ah!”