“No.”
“I must. But not now. We will continue our former conversation. Where shall we find the boat, the small one?”
“Gaspare will bring it—Gaspare! Gaspare!”
“Signora!” cried a strong voice below.
“La piccola barca!”
“Va bene, Signora!”
They descended slowly. It would have been almost impossible to do anything quickly on such a day. The smallest movement, indeed, seemed almost an outrage, likely to disturb the great white dreamer of the sea. When they reached the foot of the cliff Gaspare was there, holding the little craft in which Vere had gone out with Ruffo.
“Do you want me, Signora?”
“No, thank you, Gaspare. Don Emilio will row me. We are only going a very little way.”
She stepped in. As Artois followed her he said to Gaspare: