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That which gave rise to this last thought was an extraordinary

uproar in the street, which tempted him to open the window and

reconnoitre. There was a concourse of citizens, who, at the order

given them by the patrole to separate, had resisted for a while,

and then moved off, on all sides, in evident discontent. It was a

fatal sign to the eyes of the notary, that the soldiers treated

them with much politeness. He closed the window, and remained for

a moment undecided, whether he should conduct the enterprise to

an end, or, leaving Renzo in the care of the bailiffs, go himself

to the Capitano di Giustizia, and relate the whole difficulty.

"But," thought he, "he will tell me I am a poltroon, a coward,

and that it was my business to execute orders. We are at the

ball; we must dance, it seems. Cursed crowd! what a damned

business!" He, however addressed Renzo in a tone of kind

entreaty, "Come, my worthy fellow, do let us be off, and make

haste."