"When did you miss it?" asked Beroviero, looking hard at the
serving-woman.
"This morning, sir. It was here last night, I am quite sure."
The truthful little brown eyes did not waver.
"And it cannot have been any one else," continued Nella. "This is a very
evil person, sir, and she sometimes comes here with a message, or making
believe that she is helping me. As if I needed help, indeed!"
"Do not accuse people of stealing when you have no evidence against
them," answered Beroviero somewhat sternly. "Give your mistress
something else to throw over her."
"Give me the green silk cloak," said Marietta, who was anxious not to be
questioned about the mantle.
"It has a spot in one corner," Nella answered discontentedly, as she
went to the wardrobe.
The spot turned out to be no bigger than the head of a pin. A moment
later Marietta and her father were going downstairs. At the door of the
glass-house Pasquale eyed them with approbation, and Marietta smiled and
said a word to him as she passed. It seemed strange that she should have
trusted the ugly old man with a secret which she dared not tell her own
father.
Beroviero did not speak as she followed him down the path and stood
waiting while he unlocked the door. Then they both entered, and he laid
his cap upon the table.
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