In a glance, he understood all. He had heard the shrieks while climbing the stairs. Running to Ricardo, he snatched the whip from him, then, wheeling round upon Garofoli, he stood before him with folded arms.
It all happened so quickly that, for a moment, I was dumbfounded, but Garofoli quickly recovered himself and said gently:
"Isn't it terrible? That child has no heart."
"Shame! It's a shame!" cried Vitalis.
"That is just what I say," murmured Garofoli.
"Stop that," commanded Vitalis; "it's you, not the child! What a cowardly shame to torture these poor children who cannot defend themselves."
"Don't you meddle in what does not concern you, you old fool," cried Garofoli, changing his tone.
"It concerns the police," retorted Vitalis.
"You threaten me with the police, do you?" cried Garofoli.
"Yes, I do," replied my master, nowise intimidated by the bully's fury.
"Ah, Vitalis," he hissed, "so you'll talk? Well, I can talk also. Your affairs do not concern me, but there are others who are interested in you and if I tell, if I say one name... Ah, who will have to hide his head in shame?"
My master was silent. Shame! His shame! I was amazed, but before I had time to think, he had taken me by the hand.
