But the old sailor's stolid face did not betray the slightest intelligence.

He turned away and deliberately took half-a-dozen salted sprats from a keg behind the counter and laid them in a dish preparatory to cleaning them for his own supper.

The man who had spoken to him seemed annoyed, but only shrugged his shoulders impatiently and went on eating and drinking.
Antonino took a jug of water and went outside to wash his fish.

The two boys offered to do it for him, but he shook his head.

He did not speak until he had almost finished.
"We will fish to-night," he said at last, in a low voice, pouring a final rinsing of water into the dish.