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As to Don Abbondio, the descent from the castle did not cause him

so much fright as the ascent thither; but it was nevertheless not

agreeable. When his alarm had first ceased, he felt relieved from

an intolerable burthen; but he now began to torment himself in

various ways, and found materials for such an operation in the

present as well as in the future. His manner of travelling, to

which he was not accustomed, he found to be exceedingly

unpleasant, especially in the descent from the castle to the

valley. The driver, obedient to a sign from the Unknown, made his

beasts set off at a quick pace; the two mules kept up with the

litter; and thus poor Don Abbondio, subjected to the unusual

bounding and rebounding, which was more perilous from the

steepness of the declivity they were descending, was obliged to

hold fast by the saddle in order to keep his seat, not daring to

ask his companions to abate somewhat of their speed.