"
Quickly he signed to a boy who was standing close by watching them.
The boy ran down to the boat. Fabiano spoke to him in dialect. He got
into the boat, while Fabiano jumped ashore.
"Signora, I am ready. We go this way."
They walked along together.
Fabiano was as frank and simple as a child, and began at once to talk.
Hermione was glad of that, still more glad that he talked of himself,
his family, the life and affairs of a boatman. She listened
sympathetically, occasionally putting in a word, till suddenly Fabiano
said:
"Antonio Bernari will be out to-day. I suppose you know that,
Signora?"
"Antonio Bernari! Who is he? I never heard of him."
Fabiano looked surprised.
"But he is Ruffo's Patrigno. He is the husband of Maddalena."
Hermione stood still on the pavement. She did not know why for a
moment. Her mind seemed to need a motionless body in which to work. It
was surely groping after something, eagerly, feverishly, yet blindly.
Fabiano paused beside her.
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