“Madre! Madre!”
Hermione heard Vere’s voice calling below a moment later.
“What is it?”
There was a quick step on the stairs, and the girl ran in.
“One more packet of cigarettes—may I? It’s instead of the dolce. Ruffo says only women eat sweet things.”
“Ruffo!”
“Yes, that’s his name. He’s been diving for me. You never saw anything like it! And he’s a Sicilian. Isn’t it odd? And sixteen—just as I am. May I have the cigarettes for him?”
“Yes, of course. In that drawer there’s a whole box of the ones Monsieur Emile likes.”
“There would be ten cigarettes in a packet. I’ll give him ten.”
She counted them swiftly out.