“I have it!” mused Bob to himself. “I came here to get another barrel so Pietro could play other tunes. That will do the trick!”
So he spoke up and said:
“Have you seen anything of the other barrel?” He was careful not to say that he had come for it, for that was not his original object.
“What barrel?” asked the man.
“To go in the organ—to play different tunes,” the lad explained.
“Huh! I don’t know anything about tunes!” growled the man with the hook. “If Pietro sent you for it—all right. Take it if you can find it. But I didn’t come here for that. What time’s he coming back from this party of yours?”
“Oh, not for a long while yet. It’s only just started.”
“Urn! Well, I’d like to see him. I got particular business with him. He doesn’t know I’m here, but I am!”
The man flung himself into a chair which creaked under his weight.
“Look for the barrel—or whatever it is if you like,” he growled.