Then Marcello turned his head and looked at him vacantly. Regina
heard the long breath Corbario drew, and saw his body straighten, as if
relieved from a great burden. He stood beside the bed, and put out his
hand to take Marcello's.
"Do you know me?" he asked; but even then his voice was unsteady.
Instead of answering, Marcello turned away to Regina.
"You promised that they should not tease me any more," he said
querulously. "Make them go away! I want to sleep."
Regina came to his side at once, and faced the two men across the bed.
"What is all this for?" she asked, with a little indignation. "You know
that he cannot remember you, even if he ever saw you before. Cannot you
leave him in peace? Come back after the operation. Then he will remember
you, if you really know him."
"Who is this girl?" asked Corbario of the Superintendent.
"She took care of him when he had the fever, and she managed to get him
here. She has undoubtedly saved his life."
At the words a beautiful blush coloured Regina's cheeks, and her eyes
were full of triumphant light; but at the same words Corbario's still
face darkened, and as if it had been a mask that suddenly became
transparent, the girl saw another face through it, drawn into an
expression of malignant and devilish hatred.
[Illustration: "HE MOVED A STEP TOWARDS THE BED, AND THEN ANOTHER,
FORCING HIMSELF TO GO ON."]
The vision only lasted a moment, and the impenetrable pale features were
there once more, showing neither hate nor fear, nor any feeling or
emotion whatever.
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