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Renzo ascended one of these paths to the high ground, whence he

beheld, as if rising from a desert, and not in the midst of a

city, the noble structure of the cathedral, and he forgot all his

misfortunes in contemplating, even at a distance, this eighth

wonder of the world, of which he had heard so much from his

infancy. But looking back, he saw in the horizon the notched

ridge of mountains, and distinctly perceiving, among them, his

own Resegone, he gazed at it mournfully a while, and then with a

beating heart went on his way; steeples, towers, cupolas, and

roofs soon appeared: he descended into the road, and when he

perceived that he was very near the city, he accosted a

traveller, with the civility which was natural to him, "Will you

be so good, sir--"

"What do you want, my good young man?"

"Will you be so good as to direct me by the shortest way to the

convent of the capuchins, where Father Bonaventura resides?"