She pushed him frantically.
He took her hands and held them tightly.
"I am going, Vere. Don't be frightened!"
"But you are frightened! You are frightened!"
"I will speak to your mother. I will beg her to answer."
"And if she doesn't answer?"
"I will get into the room."
He let go her hands and went towards the door. Just as he reached it
there came from below in the house a loud, shrill cry. It was followed
by an instant of silence, then by another cry, louder, nearer than
before. And this time they could hear the words:
"/La fattura della morte/! /La fattura della morte/!"
Running, stumbling feet sounded outside, and Peppina appeared at the
door, her disfigured face convulsed with terror, her hand out-
stretched.
"Look!" she cried shrilly. "Look, Signorina! Look, Signore! /La
fattura della morte/! /La fattura della morte/! It has been brought to
the house to-night! It has been put in my room to-night!"
In her hand lay a green lemon pierced by many nails.
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