yellow dog frowned and shouted something
in Italian back at him, before shouldering his organ and tramping away, his
dog very glad to go on all fours again.

Pedro pulled off his hat, smiling at the lingering girl and boy. "He says
you have given him all your coppers," he said. "I don't believe it; but in
any case I will give you a tune."

"You are letting him go," murmured the princess breathlessly, starting to
run after the yellow dog.

"Saw you not 'twas not Topaz?" asked Gabriel, under cover of the lively
tune, and again seizing a fold of the woolen gown, he held the girl in her
place. "Wait," he said aloud, with a show of interest, "I wish to hear the
music."

"Let me go, my heart is sick," returned the princess, turning her head
away.

Gabriel pretended to frown at her and pulled some pence from his pocket, at
sight of which the organ-grinder's eyes brightened and he played harder
than ever.

"Can you be strong, princess?" asked the boy distinctly. "Don't look now,
but Topaz has come to us."

The princess started, and instead of obeying, looked closely first at the
dejected little brown dog and then up and down the street and behind her,
but in vain.

"If those pence are for me, my boy," said the organ-grinder, stopping his
music, "you and your sister shall see my dog dance. He is the wonder of the
world, although he is not much to look at. We cannot all be royal and own
golden dogs."

Gabriel threw him the pennies, for he did not yet wish to come too near
Topaz, lest the little dog might see deeper than the respectable raiment in
which his own brother would not have known him.

The boy clapped his hands above his head; the organ-grinder thought it was
for joy, but it was a signal agreed upon. A shrill whistle sounded on the
air. The organ-grinder knew the sound and knew that it was intended to
summon the officers of the law. He wondered what poor wretch was getting
into trouble; but it was none of his business. He took a whip from within
his coat, and with it struck the organ a violent snap.

At the sound the little dog jumped. The princess noticed that Gabriel's
eyes were fixed on him, and wondered what he could be thinking of to
confound this sorry-looking, dull-colored animal with her gay companion of
the palace garden.

The music began, the dog reared himself patiently upon his hind feet and
stepped about so slowly that the organ-man growled at him and struck the
organ again. Then the dancer