When they were dressed they were supplied with a frugal
breakfast--a piece of bread and cheese each; their instruments
were given them, and they were started off for a long day of
toil.
Phil looked around for Giacomo, who had slept in a different
room, but he was not to be seen.
"Is Giacomo sick this morning, Pietro?" he asked of the
padrone's nephew.
"He pretends to be sick, little drone!" said Pietro,
unfeelingly. "If I were the padrone, I would let him taste the
stick again."
Phil felt that he would like to see the brutal speaker suffering
the punishment he wanted inflicted on him; but he knew Pietro's
power and malice too well to give utterance to the wish. A
longing came to him to see Giacomo before he went out. He might
have had a secret presentiment of what was coming.
"Signor Pietro," he said, "may I see Giacomo before I go out?"
This request would have been refused without doubt, but that
Pietro felt flattered at being addressed as signor, to which his
years did not yet entitle him. Phil knew this, and therefore
used the title.
"What do you want to see him for?" he asked, suspiciously.
"I want to ask him how he feels.
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