and for a moment lay still. But presently he was on his feet, kissing
his hand prettily to the crowd, and trying to pretend that he had
fallen on purpose, as he had been taught. The Giant and Cecco were
also quickly on their feet, and the three bowed, side by side, as a
sign that the show was over.

Cecco hissed a word into Gigi's ear, and he knew what to fear next. He
shuddered and tried to draw aside; but the Giant turned to him, livid
with rage, and with one blow of his heavy hand struck him to the ground.

"So! You spoil us again!" he muttered. "You good-for-nothing! I'll
teach you! Now take the tambourine and gather up the coins from the
crowd. You'll get a beating anyway for this. But if you don't take up
more than we had at the last town, you'll have such a trouncing as you
never yet knew. Now then!"

Dazed and trembling, Gigi took the tambourine, and, shaking its little
bells appealingly, went about among the people. They had already begun
to scatter, with the wonderful agility of a crowd which has not paid.
Some, however, still lingered from curiosity and with the hope of a
second performance. A number of small copper coins Jingled into Gigi's
tambourine. He approached the good woman who had shown an interest in
him. She stooped down and thrust a piece of silver into his hand,
whispering,--

"It is for yourself, child. Do not give it to the cruel men! Keep it
to spend upon a feast-day, darling!"

Gigi looked at her, surprised. People so seldom spoke kindly to him!
The brown spot upon his eyelid quivered. He seemed about to cry. The