"
"Couldn't you sleep?"
"Signora, I never want much sleep."
"Where have you been?"
"I have been for a row, Signora."
He lifted his cap again and began to row in. The boat disappeared into
the Saint's Pool.
"He has been to Mergellina."
The mind of Hermione was awake again. The sight of Gaspare had lifted
those feet of lead. Once more she was in flight.
Arabs can often read the thoughts of those whom they know. In many
Sicilians there is some Arab blood, and sometimes Hermione had felt
that Gaspare knew well intentions of hers which she had never hinted
to him. Now she was sure that in the night he had divined her
determination to go to Mergellina, to see the mother of Ruffo, to ask
her for the truth which Gaspare had refused to tell. He had divined
this, and he had gone to Mergellina before her. Why?
She was fully roused now. She felt like one in a conflict. Was there,
then, to be a battle between herself and Gaspare, a battle over this
hidden truth?
Now she felt that it was vital to her to know this truth.
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