XXII

urnedhisback,seizingthefirstthingtheycouldlayhandson,andscamperingoffwithalltheirmight.Andtherewasaconjurerwithagapingcrowd,aquackextractingteeth,aballadsinger.Everywherewasnoise,andbustle,andlife. 'Onewouldnotsayonthefirstglancethatthesepeopleweremiserablyoppressedslaves,'Isaidmaliciously. 'Youmustlookbeneaththesurface,'repliedMatteo,whohadbeguntotakeaveryseriousviewofthingsingeneral.Iusedtotellhimthathewouldhaveacallsomedayandendupasashavenmonk. 'Letusamuseourselves,'Isaid,takingMatteobythearm,anddragginghimalonginsearchofprey.Wefixedonasellerofcheapjewellery—ahugewoman,withatreblechinandaredfacedrippingwithperspiration.Wefeltquitesorryforher,andwenttoconsoleher. 'Itisaverycoldday,'Iremarkedtoher,whereuponshebulgedouthercheeksandblewablastthatnearlycarriedmeaway. ShetookupanecklaceofbeadsandofferedittoMatteoforhisladylove.Webegantobargain,offeringherjustalittlelowerthansheasked,andthen,assheshowedsignsofcomingdown,madeherafinalofferalittlelowerstill.Atlastsheseizedabroomandattackedus,sothatwehadtoflyprecipitately. Ihadneverfeltinsuchhighspirits.IofferedtoraceMatteoineverywayheliked—riding,runningandwalking—butherefused,brutallytellingmethatIwasfrivolous.Thenwewenthome.IfoundthatCheccohadjustbeenhearingmass,andhewasassolemnandsilentasahangman.IwentaboutlamentingthatIcouldgetnoonetotalktome,andatlasttookrefugewiththechildren,whopermittedmetojoinintheirgames,sothat,at'hide-and-seek'and'blindman'sbuff,'Ithoroughlyamusedmyselftilldinner-time.Weatetogether,andItriednottobesilenced,talkingthegreatestnonsenseIcouldthinkofbuttheotherssatlikeowlsanddidnotlisten,sothatItoobegantofeeldepressed.... Thefrownsoftheothersinfectedme,andthedarkpicturesthatwerebeforetheireyesappearedtominemywordsfailedmeandweallthreesatgloomily.Ihadstartedwithanexcellentappetite,butagaintheothersinfluencedme,andIcouldnoteat.Wetoyedwithourfood,wishingthedinnerover.Imovedaboutrestlessly,butChe