“Send him out,” said the padrone.

“Faith, and I won’t,” said Bridget. “He shall stay here as long as he likes.”

“I will come in and take him,” said the padrone, furiously.

“I wouldn’t advise ye to thry it,” said Mrs. McGuire, coolly.

“Move aside, woman, or I will make you,” said the Italian, angrily.

“I’ll stay where I am. Shure, it’s my own house, and I have a right to do it.”

“Pietro,” said the padrone, with sudden thought, “he may escape from the front door. Go round and watch it.”

By his sign Bridget guessed what he said, though it was spoken in Italian.

“He won’t run away,” she said. “I’ll tell you where he is, if you want to know.”

“Where?” asked the padrone, eagerly.