ader, Tito went nearer and saw two women go up
to Bratti's basket with a look of curiosity, whereupon the pedlar drew
the covering tighter, and looked another way. It was quite too
provoking, and one of the women was fain to ask what there was in his
basket?

"Before I answer that, Monna, I must know whether you mean to buy. I
can't show such wares as mine in this fair for every fly to settle on
and pay nothing. My goods are a little too choice for that. Besides,
I've only two left, and I've no mind to soil them; for with the chances
of the pestilence that wise men talk of, there is likelihood of their
being worth their weight in gold. No, no: _andate con Dio_."

The two women looked at each other.

"And what may be the price?" said the second.

"Not within what you are likely to have in your purse, buona donna,"
said Bratti, in a compassionately supercilious tone. "I recommend you
to trust in Messer Domeneddio and the saints: poor people can do no
better for themselves."

"Not so poor!" said the second woman, indignantly, drawing out her
money-bag. "Come, now! what do you say to a grosso?"

"I say you may get twenty-one quattrini for it," said Bratti, coolly;
"but not of me, for I haven't got that small change."

"Come; two, then?" said the woman, getting exasperated, while her
companion looked at her with some envy. "It will hardly be above two, I
think."

After further bidding, and further mercantile coquetry, Bratti put on an
air of concession.

"Since you've set your mind on it," he said, slowly raising the cover,
"I should be loth to do you a mischief; for Maestro Gabbadeo used to
say, when a woman sets her mind on a thing and doesn't get it, she's in
worse danger of the pestilence than before. Ecco! I have but two left;
and let me tell you, the fellow to them is on the finger of Maestro
Gabbadeo, who is gone to Bologna--as wise a doctor as sits at any door."

The precious objects were two clumsy iron rings, beaten into the fashion
of old Roman rings, such as were sometimes disinterred. The rust on
them, and the entirely hidden character of their potency, were so
satisfactory, that the grossi were paid without grumbling, and the first
woman, destitute of those handsome coins, succeeded after much show of
reluctance on Bratti's part in driving a bargain with some of her yarn,
and carried off the remaining ring in triumph. Bratti covered up his
basket, which was now filled with miscellanies,