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"Company, company, silly woman! don't you know that every

lansquenet could devour a hundred of them? and then, if any of

them should commit some foolish violence, it would be a fine

thing to find ourselves in the midst of a battle! It would have

been better to have gone to the mountains. I don't see why they

have all been seized with a mania to go to one place. Curse the

people! all here; one after the other, like a frightened flock of

sheep!"

"As to that," said Agnes, "they may say the same of us."

"Hush, hush! it is of no use to talk," said Don Abbondio; "that

which is done, is done: we are here, and here we must remain. May

Heaven protect us!"