"Signora Luchiese broke off another little piece of cantuccini and leaned down. At her feet stood a tiny brown dog with a pair of extra large eyes looking up appealingly at her; from his small head an enormous pair of ears stood out almost like wings.

"Ecco Moschii , per lei." she said as she slipped the biscuit into his mouth.

Since her son had gone off to Bologna, Moschii was her only companion.

He was obedient and clean and brought the post from the door, his little nails clicking on the polished wood blocks.

This evening he had been running this way and that, going to the window and barking .

Signora Grimaldi above had banged on the floor. She did not like dogs and kept her distance when Signora Luchiese met her with Moschii on the landing in the stairwell"