Page 1023 of 1118

But the danger of the preceding moment had rendered more than

tolerable to Renzo, the company of these wretches and the dead

they were about to inter; and even this music was almost

agreeable to his ears, as it relieved him from the embarrassment

of such conversation. He returned thanks to Providence for having

enabled him to escape from his peril, without receiving or doing

an injury; and he prayed God to help him now to deliver himself

from his liberators. He kept on the watch to seize the first

opportunity of quietly quitting the car, without exciting the

opposition of his protectors.

At last they reached the lazaretto. At the appearance of a

commissary, one of the two monatti who were on the car with Renzo

jumped to the ground, in order to speak with him: Renzo hastily

quitting the car, said to the other, "I thank you for your

kindness; God reward you."

"Go, go, poor poisoner," replied he, "it will not be you who will

destroy Milan!"