The master pushed aside his wife.
“Wait a moment!” he said. “Let me speak to her!” then to Mattina:—
“Tell me now what you have done with the money?”
“That does not pass with me; you have hidden it somewhere, or given it to someone.”
“Since I tell you I never saw it!”
“There is no one else in the house to take it. If you did not see it, where is it?”
“Do I know?” said Mattina, sullenly. “Is she not always losing her things?” and she pointed to her mistress.
Now because the woman was really constantly mislaying her belongings, this made her still more furious. She darted at Mattina.
“Wait till I show her!” and she struck her so hard a blow on the mouth, that Mattina screamed and covered her face with both arms.