“How can they? Peppina won’t tell them.”
“You are sure? And when Gaspare goes into Naples to ‘fare la spesa’?”
“I told Gaspare last night.”
“That was wisdom. You understand your watch-dog’s character.”
“You grant that Gaspare is not an instance of a worthless object made the recipient of my heroic devotion?”
“Give him all you like,” said Artois, with warmth. “You will never repent of that. Was he angry when you told him?”
“I think he was.”
“Why?”
“I heard him saying ‘Testa della Madonna!’ as he was leaving me.”
Artois could not help smiling.