“I tell you,” persisted the boy, seeing that he had angered the man, “I tell you it will benefit you to give that dog to me; it belongs to a rich man, and he is so fond of it he will pay you much money to have it returned to him; more than you can get for all your other dogs together.”
“I do not listen to such lies! You cannot cheat me!”
“I am not cheating you. Give me the dog and you will see! Or if you do not believe me, bring him yourself! I will show you the house.”
“And have I no other work to do than to be running to people’s houses?” snarled the “boya.” “Those who want their dogs safe can keep them indoors.”
“I tell you,” said Aleko flushing very red, “that if you do not give me that dog you will find trouble. It belongs to Kyrios Spinotti and ….”
“If it belonged to the King I would not give it!” shouted the man. “What goes into the cart stops there!”
“Keep the dog somewhere safe, then,” pleaded Aleko, “and I will bring his master down here to pay you!”
“No,” said the man, unlocking the iron door. “The dogs are going in here; and,” he added with an ugly laugh, “yours shall go in first of all!”
Aleko seized hold of his arm.
“Keep him till noon!”