There was danger,
of course, that he would turn off somewhere, and Pietro judged it
best to inquire whether such a boy had passed.
Seeing two boys playing in the street, he inquired: "Have you
seen anything of my little brother?"
"What does he look like?" inquired one.
"He is not quite so large as you. He had a fiddle with him."
"No, I haven't seen him. Have you, Dick?"
"Yes," said the other, "there was a boy went along with a
fiddle."
This was true, but, as we know, it was not Phil.
"Did you see where he went?" demanded Pietro, eagerly.
"Straight ahead," was the reply.
Lured by the delusive hope these words awakened, Pietro went on.
He did not stop to play on his organ. He was too intent on
finding Phil. At length, at a little distance before him, he saw
a figure about the size of Phil, playing on the violin. He
hurried forward elated, but when within a few yards he discovered
to his disappointment that it was not Phil, but a little fiddler
of about his size. He was in the employ of a different padrone.
He was doubtless the one the boy had seen.
Disappointed, Pietro now turned back, and bent his steps to the
ferry. But he saw nothing of Phil on the way.
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