XXIV
關燈
小
中
大
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