Pagina 997 van 1118

Renzo awaited the departure of the convoy, and no one appearing

to close the gate, he passed forwards quickly; the sentinel cried

out "Holla!" Renzo stopping, showed him a half ducat, which he

drew from his pocket; whether he had had the pestilence, or that

he feared it less than he loved ducats, he signed to Renzo to

throw it to him; seeing it at his feet, he cried, "Go in,

quickly," a permission of which Renzo readily availed himself. He

had hardly advanced forty paces when a toll-collector called to

him to stop. He pretended not to hear, and passed on. The call

was repeated, but in a tone more of anger than of resolution to

be obeyed-and this being equally unheeded, the collector shrugged

his shoulders and turned back to his room.