But, as he asked this
question, his eyes met the dark look of his tyrant, and he
clasped his hands in terror.
"Do not beat me!" he pleaded. "I feel sick."
"He is only shamming," said Pietro, who was worthy to be the
servant and nephew of such a master. But the padrone thought it
would not be prudent to continue the punishment.
"Help him put on his clothes, Pietro," he said. "I will let you
off this time, little rascal, but take heed that you never again
steal a single cent of my money."
Giacomo was allowed to seek his uncomfortable bed. His back was
so sore with the beating he had received that he was compelled to
lie on his side. During the night the feverish symptoms
increased, and before morning he was very sick. The padrone was
forced to take some measures for his recovery, not from motives
of humanity, but because Giacomo's death would cut off a source
of daily revenue, and this, in the eyes of the mercenary padrone,
was an important consideration.
Phil went to bed in silence. Though he was suffering from the
brutal blows he had received, the thought of the punishment and
suffering of Giacomo affected him more deeply than his own.
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