"I came by water," he said, smiling. "I swam, Gasparino."
The boy answered the smile, and suddenly the tension between them was broken, and they were at their ease again.
"I will show you another way, signore, if you are not afraid."
Maurice laughed out gayly.
"The way of the rocks?" he said.
"Si, signore. But you must go barefooted and be as nimble as a goat."
"Do you doubt me, Gasparino?"
He looked at the boy hard, with a deliberately quizzing kindness, that was gay but asked forgiveness, too, and surely promised amendment.
"I have never doubted my padrone."
They said nothing more till they were at the wall of rock. Then Gaspare seemed struck by hesitation.