XXXII

tened.Aconfusedroarinthedistanceitresembledtheragingoftheseaveryfaraway.Iopenedthewindowandlookedout.Theroarbecamelouder,louder,andatlastwediscoveredthatitwasthesoundofmanyvoices. 'Whatisit?'askedPietroagain. Therewasascramblingupthestairs,thenoiseofrunningfeet.Thedoorwasburstviolentlyopen,andAndrearushedin. 'Saveyourselves!'hecried.'Saveyourselves!' 'Whatisit?' 'TheyarecomingtosackthePalace.TheCountesshasgiventhemleave,andthewholepopulaceisup.' Theroarincreased,andwecoulddistinctlyheartheshouting. 'Bequick!'criedAndrea.'ForGod'ssakebequick!Theywillbehereinamoment!' Ilookedtothedoor,andPietro,seeingmythoughts,said,— 'Notthatway!Hereisanotherdoorwhichleadsalongapassageintoasidestreet.' Heliftedthetapestryandshowedatinydoor,whichheopened.IrantooldOrsoandshookhim. 'Wakeup!'Isaid'wakeupandcomewithme!' 'Whatisit?'heasked. 'Nevermindcomewithme!' Itookhisarmandtriedtolifthimoutofhischair,buthecaughtholdofthehandlesandwouldnotstir. 'Iwillnotmove,'hesaid.'Whatisit?' 'ThemobiscomingtosackthePalace,andiftheyfindyouheretheywillkillyou.' 'Iwillnotmove.IamOrsoOrsi.Theydarenottouchme.' 'Bequick!bequick!'screamedAndreafromthewindow.'Thefirstofthemhaveappearedinthestreet.Inamomenttheywillbehere.' 'Quick!quick!'criedPietro. Nowtheroarhadgotsoloudthatitbuzzedinone'sears,andeveryinstantitgrewlouder. 'Bequick!bequick!' 'Youmustcome,'Isaid,andPietrojoinedhisprayerstomycommands,butnothingwouldmovetheoldman. 'ItellyouIwillnotfly.Iamtheheadofmyhouse.IamOrsoOrsi.Iwillnotflylikeadogbeforetherabble.' 'Foryourson'ssake—foroursake,'Iimplored.'Weshallbekilledwithyou.' 'Youmaygo.Thedoorisopenforyou.Iwillstayalone.' Heseemedtohaveregainedhisoldspirit.Itwasasifalastflamewereflickeringup. 'Wewillnotleaveyou,'Isaid.'IhavebeenputbyCheccotoprotectyou,andifyouarek