Pagina 910 van 1118

"Ah, the hogs!" cried Perpetua.-"Ah, the thieves!" exclaimed Don

Abbondio. Hastening into the garden, they approached the

fig-tree, and beheld the earth newly turned up, and, to their

utter dismay, the tomb was opened, and the dead was gone. Don

Abbondio scolded Perpetua for her bad management, who was not

slack in repelling his complaints. Both pointing backwards to the

unlucky hiding place, at length returned to the house, and set

about endeavouring to purify it of some of its accumulated filth,

as at such a time it was impossible to procure assistance for the

purpose. With money lent them by Agnes, they were in some measure

enabled to replace their articles of furniture.