The Call of the Blood - Page 309/317

"Signore, if I were ever to go to America you may be sure I should take

Maddalena with me."

"I think you would," Artois said, still looking at the man full in the

eyes. "I think it would be wiser to take Maddalena with you."

Salvatore looked away.

"If I had the money, signore, I would buy the tickets to-morrow. Here I

can make nothing, and it is a hard life, always on the sea. And in

America you get good pay. A man can earn eight lire a day there, they

tell me."

"I have not seen your daughter yet," Artois said, abruptly.

"No, signore, she is not well to-day. And the Signor Pretore frightened

her. She will stay in the house to-day."

"But I should like to see her for a moment."

"Signore, I am very sorry, but--"

Artois turned round in the chair and looked towards the house. The door,

which had been open, was now shut.

"Maddalena is praying, signore. She is praying to the Madonna for the

soul of the dead signore."

For the first time Artois noticed in the hard, bird-like face of the

fisherman a sign of emotion, almost of softness.

"We must not disturb her, signore."

Artois got up and went a few steps nearer to the cottage.

"Can one see the place where the signore's body was found?" he asked.

"Si, signore, from the other side, among the trees."

"I will come back in a moment," said Artois.

He walked away from the fisherman and entered the wood, circling the

cottage. The fisherman did not come with him. Artois's instinct had told

him that the man would not care to come on such an errand. As Artois

passed at the back of the cottage he noticed an open window, and paused

near it in the long grass. From within there came the sound of a woman's

voice, murmuring. It was frequently interrupted by sobs. After a moment

Artois went close to the window, and said, but without showing himself: "Maddalena!"

The murmuring voice stopped.

"Maddalena!"

There was silence.

"Maddalena!" Artois said. "Are you listening?"

He heard a faint movement as if the woman within came nearer to the

casement.

"If you loved the dead signore, if you care for his memory, do not talk

of your grief for him to others. Pray for him, and be silent for him. If

you are silent the Holy Mother will hear your prayers."