“I know who brought the fattura della morte here,” he said, solemnly. “I know.”
“Who?” said Vere.
“It was Ruffo.”
“Ruffo!”
Vere reddened. “Ruffo! He loves our house, and he loves us!”
“It is Ruffo, Signorina. It is Ruffo. He brought it, and it is he that must take it away. Do not touch it, Signorina. Do not touch it, Signore. Leave it where it is till Ruffo comes, till Ruffo takes it away.”
He again made the sign of the cross, and drew back from the death-charm with a sort of mysterious caution.
“Signore,” he said to Artois, “I will go down to the Saint’s Pool. I will find Ruffo. I will bring him here. I will make him come here.”
He was going out when Artois put a hand on his shoulder.
“And the Padrona?”