"It is hungry," he said fiercely. "You don't know what that means, do you?"
"Signer Rivarez," interposed Gemma, coming forward, "my lodgings are quite close.
Let us take the child in there. Then, if you cannot find a vettura, I will manage to put it up for the night."
He turned round quickly.
"You don't mind?"
"Of course not. Good-night, Mme. Reni!"
The gipsy, with a stiff bow and an angry shrug of her shoulders, took her officer's arm again, and, gathering up the train of her dress, swept past them to the contested carriage.
"I will send it back to fetch you and the child, if you like, M. Rivarez," she said, pausing on the doorstep.
"Very well; I will give the address."
He came out on to the pavement, gave the address to the driver, and walked back to Gemma with his burden.
Katie was waiting up for her mistress; and, on hearing what had happened, ran for warm water and other necessaries.
Placing the child on a chair, the Gadfly knelt down beside him, and, deftly slipping off the ragged clothing, bathed and bandaged the wound with tender, skilful hands.
He had just finished washing the boy, and was wrapping him in a warm blanket, when Gemma came in with a tray in her hands.
"Is your patient ready for his supper?" she asked, smiling at the strange little figure. "I have been cooking it for him."
The Gadfly stood up and rolled the dirty rags together.
"I'm afraid we have made a terrible mess in your room," he said. "As for these, they had better go straight into the fire, and I will buy him some new clothes to-morrow.
Have you any brandy in the house, signora?
I think he ought to have a little.
I will just wash my hands, if you will allow me."
When the child had finished his supper, he immediately went to sleep in the Gadfly's arms, with his rough head against the white shirt-front.
Gemma, who had been helping Katie to set the disordered room tidy again, sat down at the table.
"Signor Rivarez, you must take something before you go home--you had hardly any dinner, and it's very late."
"I should like a cup of tea in the English fashion, if you have it.
I'm sorry to keep you up so late."
"Oh! that doesn't matter.
Put the child down on the sofa; he will tire you.
Wait a minute; I will just lay a sheet over the cushions. What are you going to do with him?"
"To-morrow?
Find out whether he has any other relations except that drunken brute; and if not, I suppose I must follow Mme.
Reni's advice, and take him to the Refuge.
Perhaps the kindest thing to do would be to put a stone round his neck and pitch him into the river there; but that would expose me to unpleasant consequences. Fast asleep!
What an odd little lump of ill-luck you are, you mite--not half as capable of defending yourself as a stray cat!"
When Katie brought in the tea-tray, the boy opened his eyes and sat up with a bewildered air.
Recognizing the Gadfly, whom he already regarded as his natural protector, he wriggled off the sofa, and, much encumbered by the folds of his blanket, came up to nestle against him.
He was by now sufficiently revived to be inquisitive; and, pointing to the mutilated left hand, in which the Gadfly was holding a piece of cake, asked:
"What's that?"
"That?
Cake; do you want some?
I think you've had enough for now.
Wait till to-morrow, little man."
"No--that!" He stretched out his hand and touched the stumps of the amputated fingers and the great scar on the wrist.
The Gadfly put down his cake.
"Oh, that!
It's the same sort of thing as what you have on your shoulder--a hit I got from someone stronger than I was."
"Didn't it hurt awfully?"
"Oh, I don't know--not more than other things.
There, now, go to sleep again; you have no business asking questions at this time of night."
When the carriage arrived the boy was again asleep; and the Gadfly, without awaking him, lifted him gently and carried him out on to the stairs.
"You have been a sort of ministering angel to me to-day," he said to Gemma, pausing at the door. "But I suppose that need not prevent us from quarrelling to our heart's content in future."
"I have no desire to quarrel with anyone."