Then Gaspare went in, down the passage, and out to the terrace.
Hermione was standing there.
“Do you think they are in the garden, Gaspare?” she said.
“Si, Signora. Listen! I can hear them!”
He held up his hand. Not far away there was a sound of voices speaking together.
“Shall I go and tell them, Signora?”
After a moment Hermione said:
“Yes, Gaspare—go and tell them.”
He went away, and she waited, leaning on the balustrade and looking down to the dim sea, from which only the night before Ruffo’s voice had floated up to her, singing the song of Mergellina. Only the night before! And it seemed to her centuries ago.
“Madre!”