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Updated: May 5, 2025
She was aware for the first time of the teeming horrors of life. There, in the darkness beneath the cliff, Peppina had sobbed out her story, and Vere, while she listened, had stepped from girlhood into womanhood. She had come into the house quietly, and found Artois waiting for her alone. Hermione had gone to bed, leaving word that she had a headache.
"I know Naples like my pocket " He broke off. Hermione waited for him to go on. She had no idea what was coming. "Yes?" she said, at length to help him. "Excuse me, Signora! But that girl that girl who passed by just now " "My servant, Peppina." He stared at her. "Your servant, Signora?" "Yes." "Do you know what she is, where she comes from? But no, it is impossible."
Since she had suffered at the hands of death, Hermione felt very pitiful for women. She would gladly have gone to see Ruffo's mother, have striven to help her more, both materially and morally. But as to a visit Peppina seemed to bar the way. And as to more money help she remembered Gaspare's warning. Perhaps he knew something of the mother that she did not know.
Peppina, her eyes dewy with crocodile tears, told the padrona that although the suspicion almost rent her faithful heart in twain, she must needs think Beppo the culprit.
He had only a vague general impression of her, of her slightness, vitality, youth, and half-dreamy excitement. "Why do you ask me?" "Giulia said to me this evening that she was sure the new servant had the evil eye." "Peppina?" "Yes, that is her name." "Have you seen her?" "No, not yet. It's odd, but I feel as if I would rather not." "Have you any reason for such a feeling?" "I don't think so.
The Padrona is walking up and down the room. When Peppina screamed out I heard the Padrona move. And then I heard her walking up and down the room." He looked again at the death-charm and went out. Vere stood for a moment. Then she, too, went suddenly away, and Artois heard her light footstep retreating from him towards the terrace. He understood her silent and abrupt departure.
He said nothing, and she went on rather hastily, as if wishing to cover her last words. "Ruffo told me something that I did not know about Peppina. His step-father was the man who cut that cross on Peppina's face." "Perdio!" said Artois. He used the Italian exclamation at that moment quite naturally.
He might be alone with the Signorina when he would. The English ladies trusted his white hairs. Or the English ladies did not care for the convenances. Since he had found Peppina in the Casa del Mare, the Marchesino did not know what to think of its Padrona. And now he was too reckless to care. He only knew that he was in love, and that circumstances so far had fought against him.
The prince was young and a little timid, so he made no objections, and seated Peppina in the carriage beside him. Their way led past the old house inhabited by the cats, who were all at the window, for the report had got about that the prince was going to marry the most beautiful maiden in the world, on whose forehead shone a golden star, and they knew that this could only be their adored Lizina.
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.
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