"
He tied the knot again, unhooked the lantern; jumped out of the boat, and
lighted her up the staircase to a heavy wooden door. In another moment
she stood on the piazza close to the waterfall. The cold spray from it
fell on her face. He pushed the door to, but did not lock it.
"You leave it like that at night?" she asked.
"Non, signora. Before I go to bed I lock it."
"I see."
She saw a key sticking out from the door.
"/A rivederci/, Paolo."
"/A rivederci/, signora."
He took off his hat and went swiftly away. The light of the lantern
danced on the pavement of the piazza, and, for one instant, on the white
foam of the water falling between the cypresses.
When Viola was alone on the piazza she went to the stone balustrade and
looked over it at the lake. Was there a boat close by? She could not see
it. The chiming bells of the fishermen came up to her, mingling with the
noise of the cascade. She took out her watch and held it up close to her
eyes. The hour was half-past nine. She wondered what time Italian
servants went to bed.
The butler came out and begged to know if she would not eat something. He
seemed so distressed at her having missed dinner, that she went into the
house, sat down at the dining table and made a pretence of eating. A
clock struck ten as she finished.
"It is so warm that I am going to sit out in the piazza," she said.
"Will the signora take coffee?"
"No--yes, bring me some there.
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