She walked on and came into the
road that leads to the tunnel. She turned mechanically towards the
tunnel, drawn by the darkness.
"But, Signora, this is not the way! This is the way to Fuorigrotta!"
"Oh!"
She went towards the sea. She was thinking of the green parrot
expanding and contracting the pupils of its round, ironic eyes.
"Was Maddalena pleased to see him? Was Donna Teresa pleased?"
Hermione stood still.
"What are you talking about?"
"Signora! About Antonio Bernari, who has just come home from prison!
Didn't you see him? But you were there--in the house!"
"Oh--yes, I saw him. A rivederci!"
"Ma--"
"A rivederci!"
She felt in her purse, found a coin, and gave it to him. Then she
walked on. She did not see him any more. She did not know what became
of him.
Of course she had seen the return of Antonio Bernari. She remembered
now. As Ruffo stood before her with the wet hair on his forehead there
had come a shrill cry from the old woman in the kitchen: a cry that
was hideous and yet almost beautiful, so full it was of joy.
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