And
she went down the stairs all trembling because my Patrigno was let out
of prison. Per dio! She has a good heart. She is an angel. For the
Signora I would die. For the Signora I would do anything! I--you say I
would kill the Signora! Would I kill my mamma? Would I kill the
Madonna? La Bruna--would I kill her? To me the Signora is as my mamma!
I respect the Signora as I respect my mamma. Ecco!"
"The /fattura della morte/ will bring evil on the house, it will bring
death into the house."
Gaspare spoke again, and his voice was dogged with superstition, but
it was less vehement than before.
"Already--who knows what it has brought? Who knows what evil it has
done? All the house is sad to-night, all the house is terrible
to-night."
"It is Peppina who has looked on the house with the evil eye," said
Ruffo. "It is Peppina who has brought trouble to the house."
There was silence. Then Gaspare said:
"No, it is not Peppina."
As he spoke Artois saw him stretch out his hand, but gently, towards
Ruffo.
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