FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142  
143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   >>   >|  
ackness below rose hoarse shouts and prolonged calls--some near, some far. Faintly with them mingled the quavering and throaty voice of the blind man, now raised in "Santa Lucia." "What are we going to do, Monsieur Emile?" "We must get home at once before it gets worse," said Hermione. "Marchese, I am so sorry, but I am afraid we must ask for the launch." "But, madame, it is only a squall. By midnight it will be all over. I promise you. I am a Neapolitan." "Ah, but you promised that there would be no storm at all." "Sa-a-nta-a Lu-u-ci-i-a! Santa Lu-cia!" The blind man sounded like one in agony. The thunder crashed again just above him, as if it desired to beat down his sickly voice. Artois felt a sharp stab of neuralgia over his eyes. Behind, in the restaurant, the waiters were running over the pavement to shut the great windows. The rush of the rain made a noise like quantities of silk rustling. The Marchesino laughed, quite unabashed. His cheeks were slightly flushed and his eyes shone. "Could I tell the truth, Signora? You might have refused to come. But now I speak the solemn truth. By midnight--" "I'm afraid we really can't stay so late as that." "But there is a piano. I will play valses. I will sing." He looked ardently at Vere, who was eagerly watching the sea from the window. "And we will dance, the Signorina and I." Artois made a brusque movement towards the terrace, muttering something about the launch. A glare of lightning lit up the shore immediately below the terrace, showing him the launch buffeted by the waves that were now breaking over the sandy beach. There came a summoning call from the sailors. "If you do stay," Artois said to the Marchesino, turning back to them, "you must send the launch round to Mergellina. I don't believe it can stop here." "Well, but there are rocks, Caro Emilio. It is protected!" "Not enough." "Signora," said Gaspare, "we had better go. It will only get worse. The sea is not too bad yet." "Come along!" Hermione cried, with decision. "Come, Vere! I'm very sorry, Marchese, but we must really get back at once. Good-night, Emile! Gaspare give me your arm." And she set off at once, clinging to Gaspare, who held an open umbrella over her. "Good-night, Vere!" said Artois. The girl was looking at him with surprised eyes. "You are going--" "I shall take the tram." "Oh--of course. That is your quickest way." "Signorina--the umb
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142  
143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
launch
 

Artois

 

Gaspare

 

Signorina

 

terrace

 
midnight
 
Signora
 

Marchesino

 
Hermione
 

afraid


Marchese

 

lightning

 
immediately
 

showing

 
buffeted
 

breaking

 
quickest
 
window
 

surprised

 

watching


muttering

 

brusque

 

movement

 

eagerly

 

clinging

 

decision

 

protected

 

Mergellina

 

turning

 

summoning


sailors

 
Emilio
 

umbrella

 

rustling

 

promised

 
squall
 

promise

 
Neapolitan
 

crashed

 
thunder

sounded
 

madame

 
Faintly
 
mingled
 

prolonged

 

ackness

 
hoarse
 

shouts

 
quavering
 

throaty