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andles.Andthesellerswereajoyfulcrew,deckedoutwithredandyellowhandkerchiefs,greatchainsofgoldaroundtheirnecks,andspotlessheaddressestheywerestandingbehindtheirtables,withascaleononehandandalittlebasinfullofcoppersontheother,cryingouttooneanother,bargaining,shoutingandjoking,laughing,quarrelling.Thentherewerethepurchasers,whowalkedalonglookingatthegoods,pickingupthingsandpinchingthem,smellingthem,tastingthem,examiningthemfromeverypointofview.Andthesellersoftokensandamuletsandcharmspassedthroughthecrowdcryingouttheirwares,elbowing,cursingwhensomeoneknockedagainstthem.Glidinginandout,betweenpeople'slegs,underthebarrowwheels,behindthebooths,werecountlessurchins,chasingoneanotherthroughthecrowdunmindfulofkicksandcuffs,pouncingonanyboothofwhichtheproprietorhadturnedhisback,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,whereuponshebulgedouthercheeksandblewablastth