“I saw it pass under the Saint’s light, Signora. I did not hear it.”
“Well, but it might have been a fisherman’s boat.”
“Si, Signora. And it might have been your boat.”
The logic of this faithful watcher was unanswerable. They came up to the house.
“I think I’ll go and see Ruffo,” said Hermione.
She was close to the door of the house, Gaspare stood immediately before her. He did not move now, but he said:
“I can go and tell the Signorina you are here, Signora. She will come at once.”
Again Hermione noticed a curious, almost dogged, excitement in his manner. It recalled to her a night of years ago when he had stood on a terrace beside her in the darkness and had said: “I will go down to the sea. Signora, let me go down to the sea!”
“There’s nothing the matter, is there, Gaspare?” she said, quickly. “Nothing wrong?”
“Signora, of course not! What should there be?”