“He told me something about his Patrigno. Did you know it?”
“His Patrigno and Peppina?”
Hermione nodded.
“Si Signora; Ruffo told me.”
“I gave the boy something for his mother.”
“His mother—why?”
There was quick suspicion in Gaspare’s voice.
“Poor woman! Because of all this trouble. Her husband is in prison.”
“Lo so. But he will soon be out again. He is ‘protected.’”
“Who protects him?”