“Ah, you’re one sou short.”
“It’s not the sou for yesterday; it’s a sou for to-day.”
“That makes two sous! I’ve never seen the like of you!”
“It’s not my fault.”
“No excuses. You know the rules. Undo your coat; two blows for yesterday, two for to-day, and no supper, for your impudence. Ricardo, dearie, you’re a good boy and you deserve some recreation. Take the strap.”
Ricardo, the child who had lit the second match, took down from the wall a short-handled whip with two leather-knotted straps. Meanwhile, the boy who was short two sous was unfastening his coat. Then he dropped his shirt, baring his body to the waist.
“Wait a minute,” said Garofoli, with an ugly smile; “you won’t be the only one, perhaps; it’s always pleasant to have a companion.”
The children stood motionless before their master. At his cruel joke they all forced a laugh.
“The one who laughed most is the one who is short the most,” said Garofoli; “I’m sure of that. Who laughed the loudest?”
All pointed to the boy who had come home first, bringing his piece of wood.