To explain this, we must go back a little.
When Pietro prepared to leave the lodging-house in the morning, the padrone called loudly to him.
"Pietro," said he, "you must find Filippo today." "Where shall I go ?" asked Pietro.
"Go to Newark.

Filippo went there, no doubt, while you, stupid that you are, went looking for him in Jersey City.

You have been in Newark before ?" "Yes, signore padrone." "Very good; then you need no directions." "If I do not find him in Newark, where shall I go ?" "He is in Newark," said the padrone, confidently.

"He will not leave it." He judged that Phil would consider himself safe there, and would prefer to remain in a city rather than go into the country.
"I will do my best," said Pietro.
"I expect you to bring him back to-night." "I should like to do so," said Pietro, and he spoke the truth.

Apart from his natural tendency to play the tyrant over smaller boys, he felt a personal grudge against Phil for eluding him the day before, and so subjecting him to the trouble of another day's pursuit, besides the mortification of incurring a reprimand from his uncle.