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The reports the Bergamascans had heard of Lucy, together with

Renzo's extraordinary attachment to her-perhaps, too, the

representations of some partial friend-had contributed to excite

an extravagant idea of her beauty. When Lucy appeared, they began

to shrug their shoulders, and say, "Is this the woman? We

expected something very different! What is she, after all? A

peasant, like a thousand others! Women like her, and fairer than

she, are to be found every where!"