The man brushed his hand across his eyes.
"Povera signora! Povera signora!" murmured the doctor.
"And she comforted Gaspare, too!" Giuseppe added. "She put her arm round him and told him to be brave, and help her. She made him walk by her and put his hand under the padrone's shoulder. Madonna!"
They turned away from the village into a narrow path that led into the hills.
"And I came to fetch you, Signor Dottore. Perhaps the povero signore is not really dead. Perhaps you can save him, Signor Dottore!"
"Chi lo sa?" replied the doctor.
He had let his cigar go out and did not know it.
"Chi lo sa?" he repeated, mechanically.
Then they went on in silence—till they reached the shoulder of the mountain under Castel Vecchio. From here they could see across the ravine to the steep slope of Monte Amato. Upon it, high up, a light shone, and presently a second light detached itself from the first, moved a little way, and then was stationary.
Giuseppe pointed.