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While listening to such observations as the above, Renzo

continued to make his way through the crowd, and at last arrived

in front of the bakery. On viewing its dilapidated and ruinous

state, after the assault just sustained, "This cannot be a good

deed," thought he: "if they treat all the bake-houses in this

manner, where will they make bread?"

From time to time, some were seen issuing from the house, loaded

with pieces of chests, or troughs, or a bench, basket, or some

other relic of the poor building, and crying, "Make way, make

way!" passed through the crowd. These were all carried in the

same direction, and it appeared to a place agreed upon. Renzo's

curiosity being excited, he followed one who carried a bundle of

pieces of board and chips on his shoulder, and found that he took

the direction of the cathedral. On passing it, the mountaineer

could not avoid stopping a moment to gaze with admiring eyes on

the magnificent structure. He then quickened his steps to rejoin

him whom he had taken as a guide, and, keeping behind him, they

drew near the middle of the square. The crowd was here more

dense, but they opened a way for the carrier, and Renzo,

skilfully introducing himself in the void left by him, arrived

with him in the very midst of the multitude.