Pagina 346 di 1118

The evening preceding the day on which Renzo arrived at Milan,

the streets swarmed with people, who, governed by one common

feeling, strangers or friends, had intuitively united themselves

in companies throughout the city. Every observation tended to

increase their rage and their resentment; various opinions were

given, and many exclamations uttered; here, one declaimed aloud

to a circle of bystanders, who applauded vehemently; there,

another more cautious, but not less dangerous, was whispering in

the ear of a neighbour or two, that something must and would be

done: in short, there was an incessant and discordant din from

the medley of men, women, and children, which composed the

various assemblages. There was now only required an impetus to

set the machine in motion, and reduce words to deeds; and an

opportunity soon presented itself.