Page 435 of 1118

But Renzo continued to bellow, "I understand it, you belong to

the league. Wait, wait, till I settle matters for you;" and

turning to the door, he bellowed down the stairs, "Friends! the

host is of the--"

"I spoke in jest," cried the host, pushing him towards the bed,

"in jest; did you not perceive I spoke in jest?"

"Ah, in jest; now you talk reasonably. Since you said it in

jest-they are just the thing to make a jest of--." And he fell on

the bed. "Undress yourself quickly," said the host; and adding

his assistance to his advice, the thought occurred to him, to

ascertain if there were any money in Renzo's pockets, as on the

morrow it would fall into hands from which an innkeeper would

have but little chance of recovering it; he therefore hazarded

another attempt, saying to Renzo, "You are an honest youth, are

you not?"

"Yes, an honest youth," replied Renzo, still endeavouring to rid

himself of his clothes.