Bastianello did not move, but stretched out his long arm to take up the
boat-hook, which lay within his reach.
"If you had seen what I saw in the garden up there just now," continued
the small boy. "Madonna mia, what a business!"
"Eh, you rascal? what did you see?" asked the sailor, turning the
boat-hook round and holding it so that he could rap the boy's knuckles
with the butt end of it.
"There was the Count, who is Ruggiero's padrone, trying to kiss your
signora's maid, and offering her the gold, and she--yah!" Another
hideous grimace, apparently of delight, interrupted the narrative.
"What did she do?" asked Bastianello quietly. But he grew a shade paler.
"Eh? you want to know now, do you? What will you give me?" inquired the
urchin.
"Half a cigar," said Bastianello, who knew the boy's vicious tastes, and
forthwith produced the bribe from his cap, holding it up for the other
to see.
"What did she do? She threw down the gold and called him an infamous
liar to his face. A nice padrone Ruggiero has, who is called a liar and
an infamous one by serving maids. Well, give me the cigar."
"Take it," said the sailor, rising and reaching out.
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