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"Give me a drop," said a monatto, who walked by the side of the

cars; "I would drink to the health of the nobleman, who is here

in such good company-in yonder carriage!" And with a malignant

laugh he pointed to the car in which poor Renzo was seated. Then

brutally composing his features to an expression of gravity, he

bowed profoundly, saying, "Will you permit, my dear master, a

poor devil of a monatto to taste a little wine from your cellar?

Do now, because we lead rough lives, and moreover, we are doing

you the favour to take you a ride into the country. And besides,

you are not accustomed to wine, and it might harm your lordship;

but the poor monatti have good stomachs."

His companions laughed loudly; he took the flagon, and before he

drank, turned again to Renzo, and with an air of insulting

compassion said, "The devil with whom you have made a compact,

must be very young; if we had not saved you, you would have been

none the better for his assistance."