"
"Are you sure it was Peppina your mother wished to do evil?"
"Si, Signore, quite sure. Peppina is a bad girl. She made my Patrigno
mad. She brought trouble to our house."
"You love the Signora, don't you, Ruffo?"
His face changed and grew happier at once.
"Si, Signore. I love the Signora and the Signorina."
He would not leave out Vere. Artois's heart warmed to him for that.
"Ruffo--"
While he had been on the crest of the island an idea had come to him.
At first he had put it from him. Now, suddenly, he caressed it, he
resolved to act on its prompting.
"Ruffo, the Signora is in the house."
"Si, Signore."
"I don't think she is very well. I don't think she will leave the
house to-night. Wouldn't you like to see her?"
"Signore, I always like to see the Signora."
"And I think she likes to see you. I know she does."
"Si, Signore. The Signora is always glad when I come."
He spoke without conceit or vanity, with utterly sincere simplicity.
"Go to the house and ask to see her now--Gaspare will take you.
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