Pagina 347 de 1118

At the break of day little boys were seen issuing from the

bakers' shops with baskets on their heads, loaded with bread,

which they were about to carry to their usual customers. The

appearance of one of these unlucky boys in an assembly of people

was like a squib thrown into a gunpowder mill. "Here is bread!"

cried a hundred voices at once. "Yes, for our tyrants, who swim

in abundance, and wish to make us die in hunger," said one, who

drew near the boy, and seizing the basket, cried out, "Let us

see." The boy coloured, grew pale, trembled, and would have

entreated them to let him pass on, but the words died on his

lips; he then endeavoured to free himself from the basket. "Down

with the basket" was heard on all sides; it was seized by many

hands, and placed on the earth: they raised the napkin which

covered it, and a tepid fragrance diffused itself around.