But he wished to make sure that it was as he supposed. They
might have gone in only to play and sing.
He crossed the street, unobserved by Phil and Giacomo, and
entered the restaurant.
"Were my two brothers here?" he asked, assuming relationship.
"Two boys with fiddles?"
"Yes; they just went out."
"Did they get supper?"
"Yes; they had some roast beef and coffee."
"Thank you," said Pietro, and he left the restaurant with his
suspicions confirmed.
"I shall tell the padrone," he said to himself.
"They will feel the stick to-night."
CHAPTER X
FRENCH'S HOTEL
Pietro had one of those mean and malignant natures that are best
pleased when they are instrumental in bringing others into
trouble. He looked forward to becoming a padrone himself some
time, and seemed admirably fitted by nature to exercise the
inhuman office. He lost no time, on his return, in making known
to his uncle what he had learned.
For the boys to appropriate to their own use money which had been
received for their services was, in the eyes of the padrone, a
crime of the darkest shade. In fact, if the example were
generally followed, it would have made a large diminution of his
income, though the boys might have been benefited.
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