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As he advanced, he heard increasing a sound that had already

attracted his attention, whilst stopping to converse with the

poor woman; a sound of wheels and horses' feet, with the noise of

little bells, and occasionally the cracking of whips and loud

cries.

As he reached the square of San Marco, the first objects he saw

were two beams erected, with a cord and pulleys. He recognised

the horrible instrument of torture! These were placed on all the

squares and widest streets, so that the deputies of each quarter

of the city, furnished with the most arbitrary power, could

subject to them whoever quitted a condemned house, or neglected

the ordinances, or by any other act appeared to merit the

punishment; it was one of those extreme and inefficacious

remedies, which, at this epoch, were so absurdly authorised. Now,

whilst Renzo was gazing at this machine, he heard the sounds

increasing, and beheld a man appear, ringing a little bell; it

was an apparitore, and behind him came two horses, who advanced

with difficulty, dragging a car loaded with dead; after this car

came another, and another, and another; monatti walked by the

side of the horses, urging them on with their whips and with

oaths.