There are two fishermen on the stones. One is an old man, in a straw hat. He has a heavy-looking face, covered on cheeks and chin and upper lip with grey bristles; his eyes are embedded in fat, his nose is red, and his hands are sunburnt. He has cast his pliant fishing-rod far out into the sea, and he sits upon a rock, his hairy legs hanging over the green water. A wave washes up and bathes them, and from the dark toes clear, heavy drops of water fall back into the sea.
Behind the old man, leaning with one elbow on a rock, stands a tawny black-eyed fellow, thin and lank. On his head is a red cap, and a white jersey covers his muscular torso; his blue trousers are rolled up to the knee. He tugs with his right hand at his moustache and looks thoughtfully out to sea; in the distance black streaks of fishing boats are moving, and far beyond them, scarcely visible, is a white sail; the white sail is motionless, and seems to melt like a cloud in the sun.
"Is she a rich signora?" the old man inquires, in a husky voice, as he makes an unsuccessful effort to cross his knees.
"I think so. She has a brooch, and earrings with large stones as blue as the sea, and many rings, and a watch.... I think she is an American."
"Oh yes! Very slender, it is true, but such eyes, just like flowers, and, do you know, a mouth so small, and slightly open."
"It is the mouth of an honest woman and of the kind that loves but once in her life."
The old man drew in his rod, winked as he looked at the hook, and muttered with a laugh:
"Who fishes at midday?" asked the youth, getting down on his knees.
"I," replied the old man, putting on fresh bait. And, having thrown the line far into the sea, he asked:
"You rowed her till the morning, you said?"
"The sun was rising when we got out on the shore," readily replied the young man, with a heavy sigh.
The youth seemed annoyed and lowered his head gloomily.
"She does not know more than ten words, so we were silent."
"True love," said the old man, looking back and showing his strong teeth in a broad smile, "strikes the heart like lightning, and is as dumb as lightning, you know."
The young man picked up a large stone and was about to throw it into the sea; but he threw it back over his shoulder, saying: