Pagina 197 di 1118

Having gained an entrance, he beheld the other two bravoes with a

large mug between them, seated at play; they stared at him with a

look of enquiry, making signs to each other, and then to their

comrade at the door. This was not unobserved by Renzo, and his

mind was filled with a vague sentiment of suspicion and alarm.

The innkeeper came for his orders; which were, "a private room,

and supper for three."

"Who are those strangers?" asked he of the landlord, when he came

in to set the table.

"I do not know them," replied he.

"How! neither of them?"

"The first rule of our trade," said he, spreading the cloth, "is,

not to meddle with the affairs of others; and, what is wonderful,

even our women are not curious. It is enough for us that

customers pay well; who they are, or who they are not, matters

nothing. And now, I will bring you a dish of polpette, the like

of which you have never eaten."