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A new ray of hope dawned upon his mind as he beheld some cars

approaching, in which were the convalescents who were still too

feeble to support the fatigue of walking. They approached so

slowly that Renzo had full leisure to examine each in turn. But

he was again disappointed; the cars had all passed, and Father

Michael, with his staff in his hand, brought up the rear as

regulator of the procession.