It was the voice of the old woman, who now darted over Maddalena
Bernari's shoulder a hostile glance at Hermione.
"Madonna Santissima!" baaed the woman with the blue-black hair.
"Perhaps he will not be let out to-day!"
The old woman began to cry feebly, yet angrily.
"Courage, Madre Teresa!" said Fabiano. "Antonio will be here to-day
for a certainty. Every one knows it. His friends"--he raised a big
brown hand significantly--"his friends have managed well for him."
"Si! si! It is true!" said the black-haired woman, nodding her large
head, and gesticulating towards Madre Teresa. "He will be here to-day.
Antonio will be here."
They all stared at Hermione, suddenly forgetting their personal and
private affairs.
"Donna Maddalena," said Fabiano, "here is a signora who knows Ruffo. I
met her at the Mergellina, and she asked me to show her the way here."
"Ruffo is out," said Maddalena, always keeping her eyes on Hermione.
"May I come in and speak to you?" asked Hermione.
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