"Sant' Onofrio will bring us good-fortune."
"Davvero?" he whispered back.
"Si! Si!" said Gaspare, nodding his head.
While Maddalena laid her flowers upon the lap of the saint, Gaspare bought from a boy three sheets of paper containing Sant' Onofrio's reproduction, and three more showing the effigies of San Filadelfo, Sant' Alfio, and San Cirino.
"Ecco, Donna Maddalena! Ecco, signorino!"
He distributed his purchases, keeping two for himself. These last he very carefully and solemnly folded up and bestowed in the inner pocket of his jacket, which contained a leather portfolio, given to him by Maurice to carry his money in.
"Ecco!" he said, once more, as he buttoned the flap of the pocket as a precaution against thieves.
And with that final exclamation he dismissed all serious thoughts.
"Mangiamo, signorino!" he said. "Ora basta!"
And they went forth into the sunshine. Salvatore was talking to some fishermen from Catania upon the steps. They cast curious glances at Maurice as he came out with Maddalena, and, when Salvatore went off with his daughter and the forestiere, they laughed among themselves and exchanged some remarks that were evidently merry. But Maurice did not heed them. He was not a self-conscious man. And Maddalena was far too happy to suppose that any one could be saying nasty things about her.