“That must be he. Do you know him?”
“Si, Signora, I know Ruffo very well. He was here this morning. But I don’t know where he is now.” He looked round. “He may have gone home, Signora.”
“Do you know where he lives?”
“Si, Signora. It is near where I live. It’s near the Grotto.”
“Could you possibly leave your boat and take me there?”
“Si, Signora! A moment, Signora.”
Quickly he signed to a boy who was standing close by watching them. The boy ran down to the boat. Fabiano spoke to him in dialect. He got into the boat, while Fabiano jumped ashore.
“Signora, I am ready. We go this way.”
They walked along together.
Fabiano was as frank and simple as a child, and began at once to talk. Hermione was glad of that, still more glad that he talked of himself, his family, the life and affairs of a boatman. She listened sympathetically, occasionally putting in a word, till suddenly Fabiano said: