He turned away, though with reluctance, and Phil
breathed more freely. Pietro communicated his information to the
padrone, and the latter, finding that Phil had found a powerful
protector, saw that it would be dangerous for him to carry the
matter any further, and sensibly resolved to give up the chase.
Of the padrone I have only further to say that some months later
he got into trouble. In a low drinking saloon an altercation
arose between him and another ruffian one evening, when the
padrone, in his rage, drew a knife, and stabbed his adversary.
He was arrested and is now serving out his sentence in Sing Sing.
Pietro, by arrangement with him, took his place, stipulating to
pay him a certain annual sum. But he has taken advantage of his
uncle's incarceration to defraud him, and after the first payment
neglected to make any returns. It may readily be imagined that
this imbitters the padrone's imprisonment. Knowing what I do of
his fierce temper, I should not be surprised to hear of a
murderous encounter between him and his nephew after his release
from imprisonment, unless, as is probable, just before the
release, Pietro should flee the country with the ill-gotten gains
he may have acquired during his term of office.
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