ir night, and gentle dreams!

'Robers Bertrams qui estoit tors Mais a ceval estoit mult fors
Cil avoit o lui grans effors Multi ot 'homes per lui mors.'"

("An ill-favoured man, but a stout horseman, was Robert
Bertram. Great deeds were his, and many a man died by his
hand.")

And, muttering this rugged chant from the old "Roman de Rou," the
Provencal, followed by Rodolf, pursued his way.

The vast extent of Rome, and the thinness of its population, left many
of the streets utterly deserted. The principal nobles were thus
enabled to possess themselves of a wide range of buildings, which they
fortified, partly against each other, partly against the people; their
numerous relatives and clients lived around them, forming, as it were,
petty courts and cities in themselves.

Almost opposite to the principal palace of the Colonna (occupied by his
powerful kinsman, Stephen) was the mansion of Adrian. Heavily swung back
the massive gates at his approach; he ascended the broad staircase, and
bore his charge into an apartment which his tastes had decorated in a
fashion not as yet common in that age. Ancient statues and busts were
arranged around; the pictured arras of Lombardy decorated the walls, and
covered the massive seats.

"What ho! Lights here, and wine!" cried the Seneschal.

"Leave us alone," said Adrian, gazing passionately on the pale cheek of
Irene, as he now, by the clear light, beheld all its beauty; and a sweet
yet burning hope crept into his heart.

Chapter 1.V. The Description of a Conspirator, and the Dawn of the
Conspiracy.

Alone, by a table covered with various papers, sat a man in the prime
of life. The chamber was low and long; many antique and disfigured
bas-reliefs and torsos were placed around the wall, interspersed, here
and there, with the short sword and close casque, time-worn relics of
the prowess of ancient Rome. Right above the table at which he sate, the
moonlight streamed through a high and narrow casement, deep sunk in the
massy wall. In a niche to the right of this window, guarded by a sliding
door, which was now partially drawn aside--but which, by its solid
substance, and the sheet of iron with which it was plated, testified how
valuable, in the eyes of the owner, was the treasure it protected--were
ranged some thirty or forty volumes, then deemed no inconsiderable
library; and being, for the most part, the laborious copies in
manuscript by the hand of t