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ITALIAN NOVELISTS
most reverend sir," quoth Bigolino, "pardon me, but you don't quite understand. I wanted to let the tapers burn for me now, as when I really am dead perhaps there will be no one to light a candle for the peace of my soul, as everybody cannot read bankers' bills." Then, after some more pretty fooling, he said, "Monsignore, let's go and dine, as I am sinking for want of food." All that day he walked about the city wrapped in his sheet, to the exceeding merriment of everybody. Moreover, my lord bishop had to pay for all the expense incurred, knowing the bill to be forged.