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"I accept your obliging offer," said he; and preceding Renzo as

being more accustomed to the house, he entered a little

court-yard, approached a glass door, and opening it, advanced

into the kitchen with his companion.

It was lighted by two lamps suspended from the beam of the

ceiling. Many people, all busy, were seated on benches which

surrounded a narrow table, occupying almost all one side of the

apartment; at intervals napkins were spread, and dishes of meat;

cards played, and dice thrown; and bottles and wine-glasses amid

them all. Berlinghe, reali, and parpagliole[26], were also

scattered in profusion over the table, which, could they have

spoken, would probably have said, "We were this morning in a

baker's counter, or in the pocket of some spectator of the

tumult, who, occupied with public affairs, neglected the care of

private affairs." The confusion was great; a boy ran to and fro

busily engaged in attending to the dinner and gaming tables; the

host was seated on a low bench under the mantle-tree of the

chimney, apparently occupied in tracing figures in the ashes with

the tongs, but in reality deeply attentive to all that passed

around him.