“I know.”
“Have you been to Naples, Signora?”
“No—only to—”
“To Mergellina?”
He interrupted her almost sharply.
“No, to the Scoglio di Frisio. Pay the boatman this, Gaspare. Good-night, Andrea.”
“Good-night, Signora.”
Gaspare handed the man his money, and at once the boat set out on its return to Posilipo.
Hermione stood at the water’s edge watching its departure. It passed below the Saint, and the gleam of his light fell upon it for a moment. In the gleam the black figure of Andrea was visible stooping to the water. He was making the fishermen’s sign of the Cross. The cross on Peppina’s face—was it an enemy of the Cross that carried with it San Francesco’s blessing? Vere’s imagination! She turned to go up to the house.
“Is the Signorina in bed yet, Gaspare?”