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Renzo passed through the gate, without being stopped by the

toll-gatherer, which appeared to him very remarkable, as he had

heard those few of his townsmen, who could boast of having been

at Milan, relate wonderful stories of the strict search and close

enquiries to which those were subjected who entered its gates.

The street was deserted, and if he had not heard the humming of a

crowd at a distance, he might have thought he was entering a city

which had been abandoned by its inhabitants. As he advanced, he

saw on the pavement something scattered here and there, which was

as white as snow, but snow at this season it could not be; he

touched it, and found that it was flour. "There must be a great

plenty in Milan," said he, "if they thus throw away the gifts of

God.