her from
Marcello, and she had sworn that he should pay her for that; and
besides, he had wished to kill Marcello in order to get his money. That
was bad, undoubtedly--very bad; but to her peasant mind it was not
unnatural. She had heard all her life of crimes committed for the sake
of an inheritance; and so have most of us, and in countries that fondly
believe themselves much more civilised than Italy. That was extremely
wicked, but the attempt had failed, and it sank into insignificance in
comparison with the heinous crime of trying to separate two lovers by
treachery. That was what Regina would not forgive Corbario.

Nor would she pardon Settimia, who had been Corbario's instrument and
helper; and as she meant to include the woman in her vengeance, she
would not let her go, but kept her, and treated her so generously and
unsuspiciously that Settimia was glad to stay, since Corbario still
wished it.

Regina looked at the little travelling-clock that stood on the low table
at her elbow, and saw that it was half-past eleven. Behind the drawn
curtains she could hear the rain beating furiously against the shutters,
but all was quiet within the house. Regina listened, for Settimia's room
was overhead, and when she moved about her footsteps could be heard in
the sitting-room. Regina had heard her just before Marcello had come in,
but there was no sound now; she had probably gone to bed. Regina lit a
candle and went into her own room.

On a shelf near the little toilet-table there was a box, covered with
old velvet, in which she kept the few simple pins and almost necessary
bits of jewellery which she had been willing to accept from Marcello.
She took it down, set it upon the toilet-table and opened it. A small
silver-mounted revolver lay amongst the other things, for Marcello had
insisted that she should have a weapon of some kind, because the house
seemed lonely to him. He had shown her how to use it, but she had
forgotten. She took it out, and turned it over and over in her hands,
with a puzzled look. She did not even know whether it was loaded or not,
and did not remember how to open the chamber. She wondered how the thing
worked, and felt rather afraid of it. Besides, if she had to use it, it
would make a dreadful noise; so she put it back carefully amongst the
things.

There were the cheap little earrings she had worn ever since she had
been a child, till Marcello had made her take them out and wear none at
all.