“How did you know?” he asked at length, for in his half consciousness it had seemed natural that she should have come to him when she heard that he was hurt.

“Pasquale called Nella,” she answered simply, “and I came too.  Is the pain still very great?”

“It is much less.  How can I thank you?”

She looked into his eyes and smiled as he had seen her smile once or twice before in his life.  His memory all came back now.  He knew that she ought not to have been there, since her father was away.  His expression changed suddenly.

“What is the matter?” asked Marietta.  “Does it hurt very much?”

“No,” he said.  “I was thinking—­” He checked himself, and glanced at the porter.

A distant knocking was heard at the outer door, Pasquale shuffled off to see who was there.

“I will wager that it is the surgeon!” he grumbled.  “Evil befall his soul!  We do not want him.”

“What were you going to say?” asked Marietta, bending down.  “There is only Nella here now.”

“Nella should not have let you come,” said Zorzi.  “If it is known, your father will be very angry.”

“Ah, do you see?” cried Nella, rising, for she had finished.  “Did I not tell you so, my pretty lady?  And if your brother finds out that you have been here he will go into a fury like a wild beast!  I told you so!  And as for your help, indeed, I could have brought another woman, and there was Pasquale, too.  I suppose he has hands.  Oh, there will be a beautiful revolution in the house when this is known!”

But Marietta did not mean to acknowledge that she had done anything but what was perfectly right and natural under the circumstances; to admit that would have been to confess that she had not come merely out of pity and human kindness.

“It is absurd,” she said with a little indignation.  “I shall tell my brother myself that Zorzi was hurt, and that I helped you to dress his wound.  And what is more, Nella, you will have to come; again, and I shall come with you as often as I please.  All Murano may know it for anything I care.”

“And Venice too?” asked Nella, shaking her head in disapproval.  “What will they say in Casa Contarini when they hear that you have actually gone out of the house to help a wounded young man in your father’s glass-house?”

“If they are human, they will say that I was quite right,” answered Marietta promptly.  “If they are not, why should I care what they say?”

Zorzi smiled.  At that moment Pasquale passed the window, and then came in by the open door, growling.  His ugly face was transfigured by rage, until it had a sort of grotesque grandeur, and he clenched his fist as he began to speak.

“Animals!  Beasts!  Brutes!  Worse than savages!  He was almost incoherent.

“Well?  What has happened now?” asked.  Nella.  “You talk like a mad dog.  Remember the young lady!”

“It would make a leaden statue speak!” answered Pasquale.  “The Signor Giovanni sends a boy to say that the Surgeon was not at home, because he had gone to shave the arch-priest of San Piero!”