I am quite sure of it." Marzio looked anxiously at her, as though he expected to see her fall to the ground a second time.

It went against the grain of his nature to take Gianbattista back, although he had discharged him hastily in the anger of the moment.

He turned away and glanced at the bench.

There were the young man's tools, the hammer as he had left it, the piece of work on the leathern pad.

The old impulse of foresight for the future acted in Marzio's mind.