XXXIV

ietroappearedatthewindow,withoneendoftheroperoundhisneck. 'Good-bye,sweetfriend,'hesaidtoMarco. 'Good-bye,Pietrino,'andMarcokissedhim. Thentwomenhurledhimfromthesill,andheswunginmid-airahorriblemovementpassedthroughhisbody,anditswayedfromsidetoside.Therewasapauseamanstretchedoutwithaswordandcuttherope.Fromthepeoplecameahugeshout,andtheycaughtthebodyasitfellandtoreittopieces.InafewminutesMarcoappearedatthewindow,butheboldlysprangoutintospace,needingnohelp.Inalittlewhilehewasahangingcorpse,andinalittlewhilemorethemobhadfallenonhimlikewolves.Ihidmyfaceinmyhands.Itwasawful!Oh,God!Oh,God! Thenanotherbeatingofdrumsbrokethroughthetumult.Ilookedup,wonderingwhatwascoming.Atroopofsoldiersenteredthesquare,andafterthemanassledbyafoolwithbellsandbaubleontheasswasamiserableoldman,OrsoOrsi. 'Oh,'Igroaned.'Whataretheygoingtodotohim?' Ashoutoflaughterburstfromthemob,andtheclownflourishedhisbaubleandbowedacknowledgmentsfromsidetoside.Ahaltwasmadebeforethestage,andCaterinaspokeagain. 'OrsoOrsi.Youhavebeensentencedtoseeyourpalacedestroyedbeforeyoureyes—stonebystone.' Thepeopleshouted,andarushwasmadefortheOrsiPalace.Theoldmansaidnothingandshowednosignofhearingorfeeling.Ihopedthatallsensationhadlefthim.Theprocessionmovedonuntilitcametotheoldhouse,whichstoodalreadylikeawreck,forthepillagershadleftnothingwhichcouldbemoved.Thentheworkbegan,andstonebystonethemightybuildingwastorntopieces.Orsolookedonindifferentlyattheterriblework,fornogreaterhumiliationcanbeofferedto