necessary that both
sides should remain firm--that the Franciscans should persist in not
permitting the Host to be carried into the fire, and that Fra Domenico
should persist in refusing to enter without it.

Meanwhile the clouds were getting darker, the air chiller. Even the
chanting was missed now it had given way to inaudible argument; and the
confused sounds of talk from all points of the Piazza, showing that
expectation was everywhere relaxing, contributed to the irritating
presentiment that nothing decisive would be done. Here and there a
dropping shout was heard; then, more frequent shouts in a rising scale
of scorn.

"Light the fire and drive them in!"

"Let us have a smell of roast--we want our dinner!"

"Come Prophet, let us know whether anything is to happen before the
twenty-four hours are over!"

"Yes, yes, what's your last vision?"

"Oh, he's got a dozen in his inside; they're the small change for a
miracle!"

"Ola, Frate, where are you? Never mind wasting the fuel!"

Still the same movement to and fro between the Loggia and the Palace;
still the same debate, slow and unintelligible to the multitude as the
colloquies of insects that touch antennas to no other apparent effect
than that of going and coming. But an interpretation was not long
wanting to unheard debates in which Fra Girolamo was constantly a
speaker: it was he who was hindering the trial; everybody was appealing
to him now, and he was hanging back.

Soon the shouts ceased to be distinguishable, and were lost in an uproar
not simply of voices, but of clashing metal and trampling feet. The
suggestions of the irritated people had stimulated old impulses in Dolfo
Spini and his band of Compagnacci; it seemed an opportunity not to be
lost for putting an end to Florentine difficulties by getting possession
of the arch-hypocrite's person; and there was a vigorous rush of the
armed men towards the Loggia, thrusting the people aside, or driving
them on to the file of soldiery stationed in front of the Palace. At
this movement, everything was suspended both with monks and embarrassed
magistrates except the palpitating watch to see what would come of the
struggle.

But the Loggia was well guarded by the band under the brave Salviati;
the soldiers of the Signoria assisted in the repulse; and the trampling
and rushing were all backward again towards the Tetto de' Pisani, when
the blackness of the heavens seemed to intensify in this moment