When I met you at twelve o'clock you had more than a dollar." "It was because a good signora gave me fifty cents." The padrone, still suspicious, plunging his hands into Phil's pockets, but in vain.

He could not find another penny.
"Take off your shoes and stockings," he said, still unsatisfied.
Phil obediently removed his shoes and stockings, but no money was found concealed, as the padrone half suspected.

Sometimes these poor boys, beset by a natural temptation, secrete a portion of their daily earnings.

Whenever they are detected, woe betide them.

The padrone makes an example of them, inflicting a cruel punishment, in order to deter other boys from imitating them.
Having discovered nothing, he took Phil's violin, and proceeded to Giacomo.
"Now for you," he said.
Giacomo handed over his money.