XXIV
關燈
小
中
大
aveoutunderthekeenhands,andlookingroundtheysawthatthewallsandfloorswerebare.Buttherewasstillsomethingforthem.Theymadeforthedoorsandwrenchedthemaway.Fromthepiazzawesawmentearoutthewindowframes,eventhehingesweretaken,andtheystreamedoutofthePalaceheavilyladen,theirhandsbloodyfromtheworkofdestruction.
Alloverthetownthebellswereringing,andstillpeoplesurgedintothepiazza.ThousandshadgotnothingfromthePalace,andtheycriedoutinangeragainsttheircompanions,enviousattheirgoodluck.Bandshadformedthemselveswithchiefs,andtheyweregoingaboutexcitingtheothers.Checcostoodamongthem,unabletorestrainthem.Suddenlyanothercryrosefromathousandthroats,—
'TheTreasury!'
Andirresistibleasthesea,theyrushedtotheGabella.Inafewminutesthesameruinhadovertakenit,anditwaslyingbareandempty.
Scarcelyoneofthemremainedinthepiazza.Thecorpsewaslyingonthecoldstones,naked,thefaceclosetothehouseinwhichthelivingmanhadtakensuchprideandthehouseitself,withthegapingaperturesfromthestolenwindows,lookedlikeabuildingwhichhadbeenburntwithfire,sothatonlythewallsremained.Anditwasemptybutforafewrapaciousmen,whowerewanderingaboutlikescavengerstoseewhetheranythinghadbeenleftunfound.
Thebodyhaddoneitsworkanditcouldrestinpeace.Checcosentforfriars,whoplaceditonastretcher,coveringitsnakedness,andboreittotheirchurch.
Nightcame,andwithitalittlepeace.Thetumultwithwhichthetownwasfilledquieteneddownonebyonethesoundsceased,andoverthecityfellatroubledsleep....
