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He related the attempt upon Don Abbondio, which accounted for the

desertion of the cottage, without the necessity of imagining a

spy in the palace: he told of their flight, which might be

accounted for by the fear of the discovery of their trick upon

Don Abbondio, or by the intelligence that their cottage had been

broken into, and that they had probably gone together to

Pescarenico. "Fled together!" cried Don Roderick, hoarse with

rage: "together! and this rascal friar! this friar shall answer

it! Griso, this night I must know where they are. I shall have no

peace; ascertain if they are at Pescarenico; quick; fly; four

crowns immediately, and my protection for ever! this rascal! this

friar!"