The urchin stuck it between his teeth, nodded his thanks, lowered
himself gently into the water so as not to wet it, and swam cautiously
to the breakwater, holding his head in the air.
Bastianello sat down again and continued to smoke his pipe. There was a
happy look in his bright blue eyes which had not been there before.
CHAPTER X.
Bastianello sat still in his boat, but he no longer looked to seaward,
facing the breeze. He kept an eye on the pier, looking out for his
brother, who had not appeared since the midday meal. The piece of
information he had just received was worth communicating, for it raised
Teresina very much in the eyes of Bastianello, and he did not doubt that
it would influence Ruggiero in the right direction. Bastianello, too,
was keen enough to see that anything which gave him an opportunity of
discussing the girl with his brother might be of advantage, in that it
might bring Ruggiero to the open expression of a settled purpose--either
to marry the girl or not. And if he once gave his word that he would
not, Bastianello would be no longer bound to suffer in silence as he had
suffered so many weeks.
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