II + 

On the following day he sought out Nerone at an hour when he hoped to find Mario at home. Mario, he knew, was fond of Gian-Luca, and no doubt he also would be willing to advise. The three of them retired to a room behind the shop, in which Nerone kept his birds; the skylark, brought in because of the weather; a bullfinch that suffered much from its feet, two Norwich canaries that would very shortly breed, and a box cage of avadavats. The avadavats were huddled together in a long, ruffled, melancholy row. Mario began to tease the bullfinch with his finger, but kindly, because of its feet. + 

“I wish that I too could stand on one leg!” he said, almost enviously. + 

“I have come to talk about Gian-Luca,” began Fabio; “he must work, the moment has arrived.” + 

“You are right,” agreed Nerone, “we spoke of it last night; it is most unnatural how he reads.” + 

Mario stopped teasing the bullfinch for a moment: “What does Teresa say?” he inquired. + 

“She will not say anything at all,” sighed Fabio. “I have come to you two for advice.” + 

“Advice? Can you yourself not decide?” demanded Nerone sternly. + 

“There is so little choice,” Fabio temporized; “for Italians of our class there is very little choice, when we want to find work in England.” + 

“Oh, oh, but I thought you were English!” gibed Nerone. + 

“There is very little choice⁠—” repeated Fabio. + 

“There is of course tobacco,” Nerone smiled complacently; “but tobacco I am keeping for Geppe. When Geppe leaves school he will come into the shop, which is lucky for his father, eh, Mario?” + 

“After meals one smokes⁠—” mused Fabio, gently. “It is always much the same thing⁠—” + 

“So it is!” laughed Mario. “They may say what they please, but when a man is starving will he think of his soul? I say no, he will think of his stomach; therefore, empty or full it is all the same thing⁠—stomachs and nothing but stomachs.” + 

“Some people will even chew tobacco,” remarked Nerone; “everybody does in America, I am told.” + 

“There you are!” broke in Fabio; “what did I say? For us it is always the same.” + 

“You prosper, I believe,” Nerone said jealously; “I hear that you will soon be very rich. Why not let Gian-Luca work in your shop for a little? After that he could go as a waiter if you do not require him at home.” + 

“He may wish to be a cook,” suggested Fabio, “or perhaps a hall porter at a restaurant.” + 

“If he wants to be a waiter, I can help him,” put in Mario; “there is no doubt at all about that!” + 

“You!” sneered Nerone; “are you not well over thirty, and still at your Capo di Monte? Per Bacco! I think Gian-Luca could help you; I think it is the other way round!” + 

Mario flushed darkly. “You go too far, Babbo; insult me if you must, but not my restaurant. How often have I told you that the Capo will be famous, very famous, one of these days?” + 

“Many times you have lied thus,” Nerone said rudely; “many times have I spat out your lies!” + 

“Basta! Basta!” cried Fabio, dreading a quarrel; “I implore you not to get angry.” + 

“Who would not get angry?” grumbled Nerone. “Am I not a long-suffering man?” Presently he said: “Have you thought of our Rocca? I hear that he is wanting a boy.” + 

“I had thought of that, of course,” replied Fabio, “but I do not think it would quite suit Gian-Luca; he is still rather funny about those small goats.” + 

“Let me ask the Padrone to take him at the Capo,” Mario insisted eagerly. + 

“Sacramento!” yelled Nerone. “You and your Capo! And nothing you are, no, less than nothing! It is I who provide for Rosa and the children, it is I who scrape and save. As for you, you have nothing so far as I can see but a bunion on your left foot. I would not exchange my good wooden leg for your bunion⁠—no, that I would not!” + 

“I am thinking, Mario,” said Fabio slowly; “I am thinking of what you have said. If I kept Gian-Luca for two years in the shop, he might go to you afterwards. Already I can see him in a neat white waistcoat and a little black satin tie; I can see him in a fashionable restaurant after he has learnt at the Capo. He is one of those boys who is bound to rise; he will have such a fine appearance, I cannot promise that you will keep him long; still, no doubt it would be good training⁠—” + 

“As for that, no better exists,” bragged Mario. “Will he not be under me?” + 

“Ah!” exclaimed Fabio in enormous relief; “then I think we can take it as settled. I have always intended to make him a waiter; I have my ideas for Gian-Luca!” + 

“Then why did you come to consult us, Dio Santo!” bawled Nerone, now thoroughly roused. + 

“I wished to hear what you would say,” Fabio told him. “We are such old friends that I thought it only courteous to tell you of my plans for the boy.” + 