Then ruin seemed to menace her, for she was stopped on landing by the customs-takers, and toll and fee were imperiously demanded for her bundles of herbs and her frail baskets, and she had not a single coin upon her! She had not one in the world, indeed, for Zefferino had always paid her by barter for whatever he sold for her, and had brought her food or oil or flax or wool, and never any money.
As a great favour and goodness, the guards at last, after debating and scolding half an hour, agreed to take two of her baskets in lieu of the number of centimes that she ought to have paid to the State.
'Eh, Musoncella,' said old Febo, tugging her sleeve as they landed, and pointing to a proclamation pasted on the water-walls, 'can you read that? I cannot. They say there is money to be made. You who are always roaming, you may come across that man they want.'
She looked where he pointed; and went up to the big printed letters and spelled them out slowly, not being skilful in reading.
Her heart beat fast; her eyes seemed to grow for the moment blind.
