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A good portion of the public censure was bestowed on his friends

and courtiers. It did not spare the Signor Podestà, always deaf

and dumb and blind to the deeds of this tyrant, but these

opinions were expressed in an under-tone, because the Podestà had

his officers. Such regard was not paid to Doctor Azzecca

Garbugli, who had only his tricks and his verbiage to employ for

his defence; and as to the whole tribe of sycophants, resembling

him, they were so pointed at, and eyed askance, that for some

time they thought it most prudent to keep themselves within

doors.