“Oh, dolce luna bianca de l’ estate
Mi fugge il sonno accanto a la marina;
Mi destan le dolcissime serate,
Gli occhi di Rosa e il mar di Mergellina.”
The voice died away. There was a moment of silence.
She clasped the rail with her hand; she leaned down over the Pool.
“Buona notte, Ruffino!” she said softly.
And the voice from the sea answered her:
“Buona notte, Signora. Buona notte e buon riposo.”