But Gaspare evaded the answer, and substituted something that was almost a rebuke.
“Signora,” he said, bluntly, “if I were you I would not have anything to do with these people. Ruffo’s Patrigno is a bad man. Better leave them alone.”
“But, Ruffo?”
“Signora?”
“You like him, don’t you?”
“Si, Signora. There is no harm in him.”
“And the poor mother?”
“I am not friends with his mother, Signora. I do not want to be.”
Hermione was surprised by his harshness.
“But why not?”