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At the entrance of one of the most spacious streets, he perceived

four cars standing; monatti were seen entering houses, coming

forth with burthens on their shoulders, and laying them on the

cars; some were clothed in their red dress, others without any

distinctive mark, but the greater number with a mark, more

revolting still than their customary dress,-plumes of various

colours, which they wore with an air of triumph in the midst of

the public mourning, and whilst people from the different windows

around were calling to them to remove the dead. Renzo avoided, as

much as possible, the view of the horrid spectacle; but his

attention was soon attracted by an object of singular interest; a

female, whose aspect won the regards of every beholder, came out

of one of the houses, and approached the cars. In her features

was seen beauty, veiled and clouded, but not destroyed, by the

mortal debility which seemed to oppress her; the soft and

majestic beauty which shines in the Lombard blood.