“Where is your mind?” he added.
She answered: “Are you going to Madre’s room, Monsieur Emile?”
He put the death-charm down quickly, as if it had burned his hand.
“I am going now. Gaspare!”
At this moment Gaspare came into the room with a face that was almost livid.
“Who is it that has brought a fattura della morte here?” he exclaimed.
His usually courageous eyes were full of superstitious fear.
“Signore, do you—”
He stopped. He had seen the death-charm lying on the little table covered with silver trifles. He approached it, made a sign of the cross, bent down his head and examined it closely, but did not touch it.
Artois and Vere watched him closely. He lifted up his head at last.