"Salvatore might be there now. Do you want him to see you?"
"Why not?"
A project began to form in his mind. If he took Gaspare with him they might go to the cottage more naturally. Gaspare knew Salvatore and could introduce him, could say—well, that he wanted sometimes to go out fishing and would take Salvatore's boat. Salvatore would see a prospect of money. And he—Maurice—did want to go out fishing. Suddenly he knew it. His spirits rose and he clapped Gaspare on the back.
"Of course I do. I want to know Salvatore. Come along. We'll take his boat one day and go out fishing."
Gaspare's grave face relaxed in a sly smile.
"Signorino!" he said, shaking his hand to and fro close to his nose. "Birbante!"
There was a world of meaning in his voice. Maurice laughed joyously. He began to feel like an ingenious school-boy who was going to have a lark. There was neither thought of evil nor even a secret stirring of desire for it in him.
"A rivederci, Lucrezia!" he cried.
And they set off.
When they were not far from the sea, Gaspare said: