Pagina 496 di 1118

He saw a cross-road open to the left, and he pursued it: "I play

the devil!" continued he, "I assassinate the lords! A packet of

letters! My companions keeping watch! I would give something to

meet this merchant face to face, on the other side of the Adda;

(Oh! when shall I reach the beautiful stream?) I would ask him

politely where he picked up that fine story. Know, my good sir,

that, devil as I am, it was I who aided Ferrer, and like a good

Christian saved your superintendent of provisions from a rough

joke that those ruffians, my friends, were about to play on him.

Ay, while you were keeping watch over your shop--and that

enormous packet of letters-in the hands of the government.