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While this shop was so ransacked, none of the others in the city

remained quiet, or free from danger. But at none had the people

assembled in such numbers as to be very daring; in some, the

owners had provided auxiliaries, and were on the defensive; in

others, the owners less strong in numbers, and more affrighted,

endeavoured to compromise matters; they distributed bread to

those who crowded around their shops, and thus got rid of them.

And these did not depart so much because they were content with

the acquisition, as from fear of the halberdiers and officers of

justice, who were now scattered throughout the city, in companies

sufficient to keep these little bands of mutineers in subjection.

In the mean time the tumult and the crowd increased in front of

the unfortunate bakery, as the strength of the populace had here

the advantage. Things were in this situation, when Renzo, coming

from the eastern gate, approached, without knowing it, the scene

of tumult.