o is there so silly, as not to see
that the knavish doctor and the knavish distemper play into each others
hands, as readily as Policinello and the monkey."

"Hast thou another worse than thyself that can be named," cried he of the
crowd.

"A score, and thou shalt be of the number. My blessing on the fair bride!
thrice happy is she that hath a right to receive the benediction from one
of so honest life as the merry Pippo. Speak not I the truth, figligiola?"

Christine perceived that the hand of her companion was coldly releasing
her own, and she felt the creeping sensation of the blood which is the
common attendant of extreme and humiliating shame. Still she bore up
against the weakness, with that deep reliance on the justice of others
which is usually the most strongly seated in those who are the most
innocent; and she followed the procession, in its circuit, with a step
whose trembling was mistaken for no more than the embarrassment natural to
her situation.

At this moment, as the mummers were wheeling past the town-house, and the
air was filled with music, while a general movement stirred the multitude,
a cry of alarm arose in the building. It was immediately succeeded by such
a rush of bodies towards the spot, as indicates, in a throng, a sudden
and general interest in some new and extraordinary event.

The crowd was beaten back and dispersed, the procession had disappeared,
and there was an unusual appearance of activity and mystery among the
officials of the place, before the cause of this disturbance began to be
whispered among the few who remained in the square. The rumor ran that one
of the prisoners, an athletic Italian mariner had profited by the
attention of all the other guardians of the place being occupied by the
ceremonies, to knock down the solitary sentinel, and to effect his escape,
followed by all the drunkards who were able to run.

The evasion of a few lawless blackguards from their prison was not an
event likely long to divert the attention of the curious from the
amusements of the day, especially as it was understood that their
confinement would have terminated of itself with the setting sun. But when
the fact was communicated to Peter Hofmeister, the sturdy bailiff swore
fifty harsh oaths at the impudence of the knaves, at the carelessness of
their keepers, and in honor of the good cause of justice in general. After
which he incontinently commanded that the runaways should be apprehended.