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He replied, very affably, "My good lad, there is more than one

convent; you must tell me more clearly what and whom you seek."

Renzo then took from his bosom the letter of Father Christopher,

and presented it to the gentleman, who, after having read it,

returned it, saying, "The eastern gate; you are fortunate, young

man-the convent you seek is but a short distance from this. Take

this path to the left; it is a by-way, and in a little while you

will find yourself by the side of a long and low building; that

is the lazaretto; keep along the ditch that encircles it, and you

will soon be at the eastern gate. Enter, and a few steps further

on you will see before you an open square with fine elm trees;

the convent is there-you cannot mistake it. God be with you!" And

accompanying his last words with a kind wave of his hand, he

proceeded on his way. Renzo was astonished at the good manners of

the citizens to countrymen, not knowing that it was an

extraordinary day, a day in which cloaks humbled themselves to

doublets.