XXIV

關燈
sthelittleband.Checcoshoutedouttothemtolethergoinpeace,andtheyheldbackalittlebutasshepassedtheyhissedandcursedandcalledherfoulnames.Caterinawalkedproudly,neitherturningtotherightnortotheleft,nosignofterroronherface,notevenapallidcheek.Shemighthavebeentraversingthepiazzaamidstthehomageofherpeople.Suddenlyitoccurredtoamanthatshehadjewelsconcealedonher.Hepushedthroughtheguardsandputhishandtoherbosom.Sheliftedherhandandhithimintheface.Acryofragebrokefromthepopulace,andtheymadearush.Matteoandhismenstopped,closingtogether,andhesaid,— 'ByGod!IswearIwillkillanymanwhocomeswithinmyreach.' Theyshrankbackfrightened,andtakingadvantageofthis,thelittlebandhurriedoutofthepiazza. Thenthepeoplelookedatoneanother,waitingforsomethingtodo,notknowingwheretobegin.Theireyeswerebeginningtoflame,andtheirhandstoitchfordestruction.Checcosawtheirfeeling,andatoncepointedtothePalace. 'Therearethefruitsofyourlabours,yourmoney,yourjewels,yourtaxes.Goandtakebackyourown.ThereisthePalace.WegiveyouthePalace.' Theybrokeintoacheer,arushwasmade,andtheystruggledinbythegreatdoors,fightingtheirwayupthestairsinsearchofplunder,dispersingthroughthesplendidrooms.... Checcolookedatthemdisappearingthroughthegateway. 'Now,wehavethematlast.' InafewminutesthestreamatthePalacegatesbecamedouble,foritconsistedofthosecomingoutaswellasofthosegoingin.Theconfusionbecamegreaterandgreater,andtherivalbandselbowedandstruggledandfought.Thewindowswereburstopenandthingsthrownout—coverlets,linen,curtains,gorgeoussilks,Orientalbrocades,satins—andthewomenstoodbelowtocatchthem.Sometimestherewasastruggleforpossession,buttheobjectswerepouredoutsofastthateveryonecouldbesatisfied.Throughthedoorsmencouldbeseencomingwiththeirarmsfull,theirpocketsbulging,andhandingtheirplundertotheirwivestotakehome,whiletheythe