Artois heard voices in the house, and listened for a new one, the voice of Peppina. But he could not distinguish it. He went down into the tiny garden. No one was there, and he returned, and passing through the house came out on its farther side. Here he met Gaspare coming up from the sea.
“Good-evening, Gaspare,” he said.
“Good-evening, Signore.”
“I hear there’s a new-comer in the house.”
“Signore?”
“A new servant.”
Gaspare lifted his large eyes towards heaven.
“Testa della Madonna?” said Artois.
“Signore?”
“Have a cigar, Gaspare?”