And turning his back he was walking off. But Nico Spinotti had been searching for his dog for the whole long hot afternoon; he had walked up and down likely and unlikely streets; he had visited most of the shops at which Anneza dealt, he had been to the police station, and to three newspaper offices, and now that he thought he had found the culprit, and that this culprit was mocking him, his fury knew no bounds. He put Solon down and darting forward seized Aleko by the arm and brought down his walking stick with force across the boy's shoulders. "You young limb!" he shouted. "You thieving little blackguard! From where did you steal that dog? Tell me! Tell me or I will pull your ears off!" and each word was accompanied by a fresh blow. The poor boy twisted and writhed, but he had no chance in those strong hands. "Leave me!" he screamed. "Let go! Why do you strike me? Leave me, I tell you! I never stole your dog.... I found him.... He knows me.... He came to me!" "You can tell those lies to others! They will not pass with me," cried the furious man, pushing Aleko away at last and stooping to pick up Solon. "How should my dog know a ragamuffin like you?" Aleko, who had fallen on his knees beside the overturned basket, put up his arm to ward off further blows. "But he does! It is I who bring the newspapers to your house, and he sees me every day. Ask Anneza if it be not true?" "So much the worse if you know him! I suppose someone has put you up to steal the dog. Now, hark you! You are not to dare to come to my house or anywhere near it, and if ever I see your dirty face in our neighbourhood again, I shall hand you over to the police. So now you know!" and picking up the little dog under his arm he turned to go. "The street is not yours!" burst out Aleko with sudden fury, rubbing his shoulder. "And I shall sell my newspapers there every day!" "You will! Will you? Very well, when you want any change out of the beating you got just now, you can come to me for it! Do you hear?" "I hear." "Well, remember it then!" and turning on his heel he walked quickly down the street. Aleko was sore all over, sore in body and sore in mind. Wearily he staggered back to his cellar, threw himself on his mattress, and there in the dark, dropped his head on his arms and sobbed himself to sleep. VII Next morning, when he got up, part of the bodily soreness had disappeared, but his indignation was, if anything, greater.