Maurice went on down the path into the shadow of the trees. Presently he turned. Gaspare stood quite still, looking after him.
"Signorino!" he called. "May I not come? I want to come with you."
Maurice waved his hand towards the mountain-side.
"Go to the signora," he called back. "And look out for me to-night. Addio, Gaspare!"
The boy's "Addio!" came to him sadly through the gathering shadows of the evening.
Presently Hermione, who was sitting alone on the terrace with a book in her lap which she was not reading, saw Gaspare walking listlessly through the archway holding his gun. He came slowly towards her, lifted his hat, and was going on without a word, but she stopped him.
"Why, Gaspare," she said, lightly, "you forgot us to-day. How was that?"
"Signora?"
Again she saw the curious, almost ugly, look of obstinacy, which she had already noticed, come into his face.
"You didn't remember about tea-time!"