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Don Abbondio, after many sighs and interjections, began to

grumble aloud: he complained of the Duke of Nevers, who could

have remained to enjoy himself in France, had he not been

determined to be Duke of Mantua, in despite of all the world; of

the emperor, and above all, of the governor, whose duty it was to

keep this scourge from the country, and not invoke it by his

taste for war.

"Let these people be, they cannot help us now," said Perpetua.

"These are your usual chatterings, excuse me, which mean nothing.

That which gives me the most uneasiness--"

"What is it?"

Perpetua, who had been leisurely recalling to mind the things

which she had so hastily concealed, remembered that she had

forgotten such an article, and had not safely deposited such

another; that she had left traces which might impart information

to the depredators.