"Signora," he said, staring at her in surprise, "are you tired? Are
you not well?"
"I'm quite well. But wait a minute. Yes, I do want to rest for a
minute."
She dared not move lest she should interfere with that mental search.
Fabiano's words had sent her mind sharply to Sicily.
Maddalena!
She was sure she had known, or heard of, some girl in Sicily called
Maddalena, some girl or some woman. She thought of the servants in the
Casa del Prete, Lucrezia. Had she any sister, any relation called
Maddalena? Or had Gaspare--?
Suddenly Hermione seemed to be on the little terrace above the ravine
with Maurice and Artois. She seemed to feel the heat of noon in
summer. Gaspare was there, too. She saw his sullen face. She saw him
looking ugly. She heard him say:
"Salvatore and Maddalena, Signora."
Why had he said that? In answer to what question?
And then, in a flash, she remembered everything. It was she who had
spoken first. She had asked him who lived in the House of the Sirens.
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