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It now became the design of Don Roderick to contrive some way, by

which Renzo, separated as he was from Lucy, should be prevented

from attempting to return. He thought that the most certain means

would be to have him sent out of the state, but this required the

sanction of the law; he could, for example, give a colouring to

the attempt at the curate's house, and represent it as a

seditious act, and through Doctor Azzecca Garbugli give the

podestà to understand that it was his duty to apprehend Renzo.

But while he thought of the doctor as the man the most suitable

for this service, Renzo himself put an end to much further

deliberation on the subject by withdrawing himself.