Page 468 sur 1118

Certainly the police cannot be waiting for me at all the gates."

He looked around, therefore, and perceiving that no one appeared

to notice him, and, whistling as he went, as if from

carelessness, he approached the gate. A company of custom-house

officers, with a reinforcement of Spanish soldiers, were

stationed precisely at its entrance, to keep out persons from

abroad, who might be attracted, by the noise of the tumult, to

rush into the city; their attention was therefore directed beyond

the gate, and Renzo, taking advantage of this, contrived, with a

quiet and demure look, to pass through, as if he were some

peaceful traveller; but his heart beat violently. He pursued a

path on the right, to avoid the high road, and for some distance

did not dare to look behind him.