THE BOYS RECEPTION Phil and Giacomo entered the lodging-house, wholly unconscious of the threatening storm, The padrone scowled at them as they entered but that was nothing unusual.

Had he greeted them kindly, they would have had reason to be surprised.
"Well," he said, harshly, "how much do you bring ?" The boys produced two dollars and a half which he pocketed.
"Is this all ?" he asked.
"It was cold," said Phil, "and we could not get more." The padrone listened with an ominous frown.
"Are you hungry ?" he asked.

"Do you want your supper ?" Phil was puzzled by his manner, for he expected to be deprived of his supper on account of bringing less money than usual.

Why should the padrone ask him if he wanted his supper?
Though he was not hungry, he thought it best to answer in the affirmative.
"What would you like ?" asked the padrone.
Again Phil was puzzled, for the suppers supplied by the padrone never varied, always consisting of bread and cheese.
"Perhaps," continued the padrone, meeting no answer, "you would like to have coffee and roast beef." All was clear now.

Phil understood that he had been seen going in or out of the restaurant, though he could not tell by whom.