She watched him, wondering what he was doing, till at last she could
not be patient any longer.
"Gaspare!" she called out.
He started violently.
"I am coming, Signora."
"I am waiting for you."
"A moment, Signora!"
Yes, his voice was reluctant; but he went at once towards the house
and disappeared. Directly afterwards she heard the windows being shut
and barred, then a step coming rather slowly up the staircase.
"Che vuole, Signora?"
How many times she had heard that phrase from Gaspare's lips? How many
times in reply she had expressed some simple desire! To-night she
found a difficulty in answering that blunt question. There was so much
that she wished, wanted--wide and terrible want filled her heart.
"Che vuole?" he repeated.
As she heard it a second time, suddenly Hermione knew that for the
moment she was entirely dominated by Ruffo and that, which concerned,
which was connected with him. The fisher-boy had assumed an abrupt and
vast importance in her life.
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