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74 the miracles of antichrist.
three soldi. The rector stood staring at the little
Madonna, till he felt the tears rise in his eyes.
While he stood thus Signorina Palmeri came into
the room. Her head was bowed and she walked
slowly, as though she were wounded. When the
rector saw her, it seemed as if he wished to say:
" You and I, Signorina Palmeri, have met in a strange
old house. Are you here for the purpose of
studying the Moorish inscriptions or to seek mosaics in
the old cellars ? " For the rector felt perplexed when
he saw Signorina Palmeri. He could not understand
that this noble lady was poor. He could not conceive
that she lived in the little Moor’s house.
He said to himself that he must rescue her from
the haunted house and from poverty. He prayed
the gracious Madonna for power to save her.
Thereupon he told the signorina that he was sent
to her by Don Ferrante Alagona. Don Ferrante had
confided in him that she had declined his offer of
marriage. Why ? Didn’t she know that although
Don Ferrante appeared to be poor, standing there in
his shop, he was nevertheless the richest man in
Diamante. Besides Don Ferrante was of ancient
Spanish stock, which had been highly respected,
both at home and in Sicily. And he still owned the
large house by the Corso which had belonged to his
ancestors.
While Don Matteo was speaking, he saw how the
signorina’s face grew rigid and pale. He almost
feared to speak plainly, for fear that she would faint.
It was only with the greatest effort that she was
able to answer him. The words would not pass over
her lips. It was as if they were too detestable to
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