“Has Gaspare told you?” She turned her head towards Gaspare. “Something terrible has happened to Madre. Monsieur Emile, do you know what it is?”
She was looking at him with an intense scrutiny.
“Gaspare is hiding something from me—”
Gaspare stood there and said nothing.
“—something that perhaps you know.”
Gaspare looked at Artois, and Artois felt now that the watch-dog trusted him. He returned the Sicilian’s glance, and Gaspare moved away, went to the rail of the terrace, and looked down over the sea.
“Do you know? Do you know anything—anything dreadful about Madre that you have never told me?”
“Vere, don’t be frightened.”
“Ah, but you haven’t been here! You weren’t here when—”
“What is it?”