ty," she said.

"Why?"

"Coming at such an hour. Are you working?"

"No. I don't know why, but I am incapable of work. I feel both lazy and
restless, an unfruitful combination. Perhaps something in me secretly
knew that you were coming."

"Then it is my fault."

They came into his sitting-room. It had four windows, two facing the
sea, two looking on the road, and the terraces and garden of the Hotel
Hassler. The room scarcely suggested its present occupant. It contained
a light-yellow carpet with pink flowers strewn over it, red-and-gold
chairs, mirrors, a white marble mantelpiece, a gray-and-pink sofa with
a pink cushion. Only the large writing-table, covered with manuscripts,
letters, and photographs in frames, said something individual to the
visitor. Hermione and Vere were among the photographs.

Hermione sat down on the sofa.

"I have come to consult you about something, Emile."

"What is it?"

"I really meant to ask you last night, but somehow I couldn't"

"Why?"

"I don't know. We--I--there seemed to be a sort of barrier between
us--didn't there?"

"I was in a bad humor. I was tired after the journey, and perhaps the
weather upset me."

"It's all right--one can't be always--Well, this is what I wanted to
say. I alluded to it yesterday when I told you about my visit to Naples
with Madame Alliani. Do you remember?"

"You hinted you had seen, or heard of, some tragedy."

"Yes. I believe it is a quite ordinary one in Naples. We went to visit
a consumptive woman in one of those narrow streets going uphill to the
left of the Via Roma, and while there by chance I heard of it. In the
same house as the sick woman there is a girl. Not many days ago she was
beautiful!"

"Yes? What has happened to her?"

"I'll tell you. Her name is Peppina. She is only nineteen, but she has
been one of those who are not given a chance. She was left an orphan
very young and went to live with an aunt. This aunt is a horrible old
woman. I believe--they say she goes to the Galleria--"

Hermione paused.

"I understand," said Artois.

"She is greedy, wicked, merciless. We had the story from the woman
we were visiting, a neighbor. This aunt forced Peppina into sin.
Her beauty, which must have been extraordinary, naturally attracted
attention and turned people's heads. It seems to have driven one man
nearly mad. He is a fisherman, not young, and a married man. It seems
that he is notoriously violent and jealous, and thoro