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From the square de' Mercanti, the clamorous troop at length

arrived at the Cordusio. Each one immediately looked towards the

shop; but, instead of the crowd of friends which they expected to

find engaged on its demolition, there were but a few, at a

distance from the shop, which was shut, and defended from the

windows by armed people. They fell back, and there was a murmur

through the crowd of unwillingness to risk the hazard of

proceeding, when a voice was heard to cry aloud, "Near by is the

house of the superintendent of provision; let us do justice, and

plunder it." There was a universal acceptance of the proposal,

and "To the superintendent's! to the superintendent's!" was the

only sound that could be heard. The crowd moved with unanimous

fury towards the street where the house, named in such an evil

moment, was situated.

CHAPTER XIII.