"It is true that Guido stole your dog, Niki," he said. "But this is not Niki. You see, that was a long time ago and Niki died. Ah, poor thing!"
He wiped away a false tear and stroked Tina's head fondly.
"This is our own Tina," he added.
"Oh, Papa!" wailed the poor little girl. "Niki is dead!"
But the father was not so easily deceived. "Give me the dog," he said. "I wish to see it more closely."
Tony started to draw back with Tina, but the man snatched her out of his arms.
"What you have told me is a lie," he declared. "This is indeed my daughter's dog. I recognize her by the peculiar marking under her chin."
He glared angrily at Tony.
"You are a lying little scamp as your father is a thief!" he said.