VII + 

That night Gian-Luca returned to the Capo, but this time he did not go in. He hid like a thief in the opposite doorway, watching for the waiters to leave. Mario came first; that was good. He was glad. He shrank farther into the shadow, but Mario passed him with never a glance and went limping away down the street. Then came the new waiter accompanied by the boy; they said goodnight and the waiter caught a bus. The boy looked round him then lit a cigarette⁠—obviously one that he had stolen⁠—after which he too walked away down the street, whistling softly between puffs. + 

In an upper window of the Capo a light showed⁠—that was the Padrona’s sitting-room. Gian-Luca watched it, and as he did so he was filled with a queer, ugly sense of pleasure. He was glad that the light should stream out between the curtains; it meant that the Padrona was near; and he thought of what he was about to do and felt glad that she should be near him. A door opened and shut, Schmidt came across the road⁠—he was now all but touching Gian-Luca. + 

“Schmidt!” + 

“Nun was!” Schmidt jumped as though frightened. “Oh, hallo! Is that you, Gian-Luca?” + 

Gian-Luca jingled the money in his pockets, then he slipped his arm into Schmidt’s. “Will you take me to see those girls?” said Gian-Luca, and he turned his face up to the lighted window. + 

“Ach so!” murmured Schmidt. “You make up your mind⁠—come along then, I understand.” + 