XXIX

關燈
ontainhimselfhedrewhissword,shouting,— 'Letmepass!' Theyshrankbackandhewenthisway.Butimmediatelyhehadgonethestormredoubled,andtheplacerangwiththeircries. 'ByGod,'saidChecco,'howwillinglyIwouldturnthecannononthemandmowthemdownlikegrass!' Theywerethefirstwordshehadsaidofthechangeoffeeling.... Itwasthesamewithus,whenwewalkedthroughthestreets—MatteoandIandtheMoratini—theyhissedandgroanedatus.Andaweekbeforetheywouldhavelickedourbootsandkissedthegroundwetrodon! Thebombardmentcontinued,outsideandin,anditwasreportedthroughthetownthatLodovicohadvowedtosacktheplaceandhangeverythirdcitizen.Theyknewhewasthemantokeephisword.Themurmursbegantogrowevenlouder,andvoiceswereheardsuggestingasurrender....Ithadoccurredtoallofthem,andwhenthemosttimid,driventoboldnessbytheirfear,spoketheword,theylookedatoneanotherguiltily.Theygatheredtogetherinlittleknots,talkinginundertones,suspicious,stoppingsuddenlyiftheysawnearanyonewhowasknowntobeinfavourofthepartyofLiberty.Theydiscussedhowtomaketermsforthemselvessomesuggestedgivingupthetownunconditionally,othersproposedanagreement.AtlasttheyspokeofappeasingtheDukeb
0.049109s