“Antonio Bernari will be out to-day. I suppose you know that, Signora?”
“Antonio Bernari! Who is he? I never heard of him.”
Fabiano looked surprised.
“But he is Ruffo’s Patrigno. He is the husband of Maddalena.”
Hermione stood still on the pavement. She did not know why for a moment. Her mind seemed to need a motionless body in which to work. It was surely groping after something, eagerly, feverishly, yet blindly.
Fabiano paused beside her.
“Signora,” he said, staring at her in surprise, “are you tired? Are you not well?”
“I’m quite well. But wait a minute. Yes, I do want to rest for a minute.”
She dared not move lest she should interfere with that mental search. Fabiano’s words had sent her mind sharply to Sicily.
Maddalena!