XXIV

rushedtowardshim,surroundinghimwithcriesandcheers....Thesquarewasgrowingfullereverymomenttheshopshadbeenclosed,andfromallquarterscameswarmingartisansandapprentices.ImademywaytoCheccoandwhisperedtohim,— 'Thepeople!Firethem,andtherestwillfollow.' 'Aleaderofrabble!' 'Nevermind,'Isaid.'Makeuseofthem.Givewaytothemnow,andtheywilldoyourwill.GivethemthebodyoftheCount!' Helookedatme,thennoddedandwhispered,— 'Quickly!' IrantothePalaceandtoldMarcoScorsacanawhatIhadcomefor.WewentintotheHalloftheNymphsthebodywaslyingonitsface,almostdoubledup,andthefloorwasstainedwithahorriblestreamofbloodinthebackweretwowounds.LodovicohadindeedmadesurethattheCountwassafe....Wecaughtholdofthebodyitwasnotyetcold,anddraggedittothewindow.Withdifficultywelifteditontothesill. 'Hereisyourenemy!'Icried. Thenhoistinghim,wepushedhimout,andhefellonthestoneswithagreat,dullthud.Amightyshoutburstfromthemobastheyrushedatthebody.Onemantorethechainoffhisneck,butashewasrunningawaywithitanothersnatchedatit.Inthestruggleitbroke,andonegotawaywiththechain,theotherwiththejewel.Then,withcriesofhate,theysetonthecorpse.Theykickedhimandslappedhisfaceandspatonhim.Theringswerewrenchedoffhisfingers,hiscoatwastornawaytheytookhisshoes,hishoseinlessthanaminuteeverythinghadbeenrobbed,andhewaslyingnaked,nakedaswhenhewasborn.Theyhadnomercythosepeopletheybegantolaughandjeer,andmakefouljokesabouthisnakedness. Thepiazzawasthronged,andeverymomentpeop