Pagina 466 di 1118

When he thought himself sufficiently removed from the scene of

peril, he slackened his steps, and began to look around for some

countenance which might inspire him with confidence enough to

make his enquiries. But the enquiry would of itself be

suspicious; time pressed; the police, recovering from their

fright, would, without doubt, pursue their fugitive; the noise of

his escape might have reached even there; and in so great a

multitude Renzo might pass many judgments in physiognomy before

he should find one which seemed favourable. After suffering many

to pass whose appearance was unpropitious, he at last summoned

courage to address a man, who seemed in such haste, that Renzo

deemed he would not hesitate to answer his questions, in order to

get rid of him. "Will you be so good, sir, as to tell me through

which gate to go to Bergamo?"

"To Bergamo? through the eastern gate. Take this street to the

left; you will come to the square of the cathedral; then--"