y, as I have surely taught some of you to
do. And may God be with you always!"

A big, stout man answered, his face crimson:

"We will pray, but you are not going to die. Don't believe that. But
please give us your blessing."

"Yes, give us your blessing, give us your blessing!" was repeated by
many voices.

Meanwhile, from the narrow stairway the impatient voices could be heard
of those who wished to come up, and could not. Benedetto said something
in an undertone to Don Clemente. Don Clemente ordered those present to
file past the bed and then leave the room, that the others might do the
same.

One by one they all passed. They were poor people from the
Testaccio--workmen, clerks from shops, women who sold fruit, pedlars
and beggars. From time to time Benedetto said a word of dismissal, in a
tired voice: "_Addio_."--"Farewell!"--"We shall meet in Paradise."--Some
in passing silently bent the knee, others touched the bed and then made
the sign of the cross. Some begged him to pray for them or for their
dear ones, while others called down blessings upon him. One asked to be
forgiven because he had believed the slanderers, and at that a series
of "Forgive me also, me also!" sounded. The hunchback from Via della
Marmorata was there, and began telling him amidst her tears that the
old priest had confessed; and would have liked to tell him all her
gratitude, had not those behind her pushed her away, and taken her from
the sight of him for ever. Many passed thus before him for the last
time, and, weeping, went from him, forever,--many he had comforted, in
body and in mind. He recognised some, and greeted them with a gesture.
On they passed, often turning their tearful faces back towards him. The
stream that passed down brushed against the stream that passed up the
narrow stairs, and gave them their impressions of the sorrowful room
in advance:--"Ah! what a face."--"Ah! what a voice!"--"Good God! he is
dying!"--"He is one of God's angels!"--"You will see!"--"He has Paradise
in his eyes!" And not a few were murmuring curses against the wretches
who had slandered him; not a few spoke, with a shudder, of poison, or
murder. _Dio!_--He had been taken away by the police, and had returned
in this state. A mournful, continuous rumbling of thunder, and the loud
steady splash of the rain, drowned both the sorrowful and the angry
whisperings. When the stream of people had ceased to flow out, Mayda had
the window opened, for the air