"It was the Marionette Man who stole Niki away from us," he said. "She was performing on the stage."
"And, oh, Mama!" exclaimed Anna, "his little boy said that Niki died, and it wasn't true at all! That boy was a story-teller, wasn't he, papa?"
"He was a young rascal," replied her father. "Still, he had such an intelligent face. What a pity!"
Tony, under the window, drew closer to listen.
"The lad is already a clever liar and no doubt a beggar as well," Anna's father continued. "One day he will become a thief like Guido!"
Tony crouched lower and winced. "A thief like Guido!" The words had a dreadful sound.
"I should like to train that boy," remarked Anna's father. "I would discipline him!"
The gentleman looked very fierce as he said this. He frightened Tony, who hated discipline!
But if Tony had known exactly what he meant, he would not have been frightened. Anna's father had always wanted a son of his own. He would have been very proud of a son.
| TONY DREW CLOSER TO LISTEN |