Page:The Italian - Radcliffe, volume 1 (1797).djvu/4

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(iv)

Within the shade of the portico, a person with fol­ded arms, and eyes directed towards the ground, was pacing behind the pillars the whole extent of the pave­ment, and was apparently so engaged by his own thoughts, as not to observe that strangers were ap­proaching. He turned, however, suddenly, as if star­tled by the sound of steps, and then, without further pausing, glided to a door that opened into the church, and disappeared.

There was something too extraordinary in the fi­gure of this man, and too singular in his conduct, to pass unnoticed by the visitors. He was of a tall thin figure, bending forward from the shoulders; of a sallow complexion, and harsh features, and had an eye, which, as it looked up from the cloke that muffled the lower part of his countenance, seemed ex­pressive of uncommon ferocity.

The travellers, on entering the church, looked round for the stranger, who hadpassed