"I don't know that there is any real reason why you should not. But my
instinct was against the acquaintance. Where can Vere be? Does she
often come out alone at night?"

"Very often. Ah! There she is, beyond the bridge, and--is that the
Marchesino Panacci with her? Why--no, it's--"

"It is Ruffo," Artois said.

Vere and the boy were standing near the edge of the cliff and talking
earnestly together, but as Hermione and Artois came towards them they
turned round as if moved by a mutual impulse. Ruffo took off his cap
and Vere cried out:

"Monsieur Emile!"

She came up to him quickly. He noticed that her face looked
extraordinarily alive, that her dark eyes were fiery with expression.

"Good-evening, Vere," he said.

He took her small hand.

"Buona sera, Ruffo," he added.

He looked from one to the other, and saw the perfect simplicity of
both.

"Tell me, Vere," he said. "Have you seen any one on the islet