"Do you wish to tell whether they will really kill Veronica?" inquired
Giuditta. "If you have any question to ask, you must put it quickly. I
cannot keep the spirits waiting. They exhaust me when they are
impatient."
"What shall I do to avoid marrying her?" asked Bosio, suddenly springing
to the main point of his doubts.
"The handsome woman whose eyes are near together will make you marry
Veronica," said the spirit voice.
"But if I refuse? If I say that I will not? What then? Is her life
really in danger?"
"Yes. They wish to kill her to get her money. The handsome woman has her
will leaving her everything if she dies."
"But will they really kill her?" insisted Bosio, half breathless in his
fear and nervous excitement.
The spirit voice did not answer. In the silence Bosio heard Giuditta
Astarita's breathing opposite to him.
"Will they really kill her?" he asked again.
Still there was silence, and Bosio held his breath. Then Giuditta spoke
hoarsely.
"The spirit is gone," she said. "He will not answer any more questions
to-day."
"Can you not call it back?" asked Bosio, anxiously, and peering into the
blackness before him, as though hoping to see something.
"No. When he is gone he never comes back for the same person. He
answered you many things, Signore. You must have patience."
He heard her rise, and a moment later the light dazzled him as he looked
up and met her china blue eyes. He was dazed as well as dazzled, for
there had been an extraordinary directness and accuracy about the few
questions and answers he had heard in the clear voice which was so
utterly unlike Giuditta's, though quite human and natural.
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