She looked at him.
"Non lo so."
It seemed to him that he was answered.
"Wouldn't you forget the Madonna for me?" he whispered, leaning towards her.
There was a loud report close to them, a whizzing noise, a deep murmur from the crowd, and in the clear sky above Etna the first rocket burst, showering down a cataract of golden stars, which streamed towards the earth, leaving trails of fire behind them.
The sound of the grinding organ and of the shepherd boy's flute ceased in the dancing-room, and the crowd within rushed out into the market-place.
"Signorino! Signorino! Come with me! We cannot see properly here! I know where to go. There will be wheels of fire, and masses of flowers, and a picture of the Regina Margherita. Presto! Presto!"
Gaspare had hold of Maurice by the arm.
"E' finito!" Maurice murmured.
It seemed to him that the last day of his wild youth was at an end.