"Let me go, Monsieur Emile. We can't let Madre stay like that, all
alone in the dark. She must have food. We can't stay down here and
leave her."
Artois hesitated. He thought of the stranger at the window, and he
felt afraid. But he concealed his fear.
"Perhaps you had better go, Vere," he said, at length. "But if she
does not answer, don't try the door. Don't knock. Just speak. You will
find the best words."
"Yes. I'll try--I'll try."
Gaspare opened the door. Giulia was sobbing outside. Her pride and
dignity were lacerated by Gaspare's action.
"Giulia, never mind! Don't cry! Gaspare didn't mean--"
Before she had finished speaking the servant passionately seized her
hand and kissed it. Vere released her hand very gently and went slowly
up the stairs.
The instinct of Artois was to follow her. He longed to follow her, but
he denied himself, and sat down by the dinner-table, on which the
zuppa di pesce was smoking under the lamp. Giulia, trying to stifle
her sobs, went away down the kitchen stairs, and Gaspare stood near
the door.
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