She asked for the house of Zefferino the pastorino, and went straight to it. It was a foul-smelling place, reeking of garlic and stable filth; she saw the father of Zefferino, who was eating an onion and throwing young boughs into a manger for cows.
'Zirlo has stolen my mule,' she said abruptly. 'I am come to you to have it back.'
'You are a bold one, whoever you are,' said the man. 'Why do you think he has robbed you?'
'Because the mule is gone, and he alone knew where I kept it; and because he is a false and wicked creature, and did me a treachery but a few days ago; and I spared him then, and I was foolish———'
'Oh ho!' said the man, 'my little lad has told me about you; you are a gipsy, and a witch, and worse, and you live in the bowels of the earth, and some fine night we will come and smoke you out. As for your spavined beast, I know nought of it, and Zefferino is gone away to Bolsena to his mother's folk who are fishers there, for he was afraid for his life to remain where you could get at him———'
