"Possibly it would, but it is not an easy thing to get the saw to
work. We should have to bore a hole large enough for the saw to go
through before we could use it. However, we will buy both a saw and
a crowbar; as they are both things that are useful to woodcutters,
your buying them will not appear suspicious, nor will the purchase
of an auger, but we had better get them at different shops."

Leaving that part of the town they re-entered the streets where
business was being carried on as usual.

"We won't buy the things until late in the afternoon, Paolo. There
would be no advantage in dragging them about all day."

They sauntered about the streets for some hours, then Paolo went
into a small baker's and bought two loaves of coarse bread. At
another shop he purchased some cheese, and with these they sat down
on a stone bench in the principal square and leisurely ate their
food and looked on at the crowd, which consisted principally of
soldiers, Spanish veterans, stiff in carriage and haughty in manner,
together with others, horse and foot, belonging to the contingent
of the Duke of Milan, an ally of the Spanish. Among these were
townspeople, the younger ones chatting with each other or with
ladies of their acquaintance; the middle aged and older men talking
gravely together as they walked up and down.

Among these there was an air of gloom and depression. The state
of panic in which the troops of Prince Thomas, who had marched
out confident that they were about to annihilate the French, had
returned, and the knowledge that the Marquis of Leganez had also