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The marquis thanked Don Abbondio, telling him he should leave it

to him to fix the price, and to do so entirely to their

advantage, as it was an object with him to make the amount as

large as possible. He then proposed that they should go together

to the cottage of Lucy.

On their way, Don Abbondio, quite overjoyed continued the

conversation,-"Since your lordship is so disposed to benefit this

people, there is another service you can render them. The young

man has an order for his apprehension out against him, for some

folly he committed two years ago at Milan, on the day of the

great Tumult. A recommendation, a word, from a man like yourself,

might hereafter be of service to him."

"Are there not heavy charges against him?"

"They made a great deal of noise about it; but really there was

nothing in it."

"Well, well; I will take it upon myself to free him from all

embarrassment."