"What does it matter?"
Again there was a pause. Then Gaspare said:
"Now that the signora has come back we shall not go any more to the Casa delle Sirene, shall we?"
"No, I don't suppose we shall go any more."
"It is better like that, signorino. It is much better that we do not go."
Maurice said nothing.
"We have been there too often," added Gaspare. "I am glad the signora has come back. I am sorry she ever went away."
"It was not our fault that she went," Maurice said, in a hard voice like that of a man trying to justify something, to defend himself against some accusation. "We did not want the signora to go."
"No, signore."
Gaspare's voice sounded almost apologetic. He was a little startled by his padrone's tone.