will despatch a
courier forthwith."

"Better wait and see the ceremony," said the Savelli; "some greater
folly will close the pomp, be assured."

"Hark ye, my masters," said the grim Lord of the Orsini; "ye are for
delay and caution; I for promptness and daring; my kinsman's blood calls
aloud, and brooks no parley."

"And what do?" said the soft-voiced Savelli; "fight without soldiers,
against twenty thousand infuriated Romans? not I."

Orsini sunk his voice into a meaning whisper. "In Venice," said he,
"this upstart might be mastered without an army. Think you in Rome no
man wears a stiletto?"

"Hush," said Stephen, who was of far nobler and better nature than his
compeers, and who, justifying to himself all other resistance to the
Tribune, felt his conscience rise against assassination; "this must not
be--your zeal transports you."

"Besides, whom can we employ? scarce a German left in the city; and
to whisper this to a Roman were to exchange places with poor
Martino--Heaven take him, for he's nearer heaven than ever he was
before," said the Savelli.

"Jest me no jests," cried the Orsini, fiercely. "Jests on such a
subject! By St. Francis I would, since thou lovest such wit, thou hadst
it all to thyself; and, methinks, at the Tribune's board I have seen
thee laugh at his rude humour, as if thou didst not require a cord to
choke thee."

"Better to laugh than to tremble," returned the Savelli.

"How! darest thou say I tremble?" cried the Baron.

"Hush, hush," said the veteran Colonna, with impatient dignity. "We are
not now in such holiday times as to quarrel amongst ourselves. Forbear,
my lords."

"Your greater prudence, Signor," said the sarcastic Savelli, "arises
from your greater safety. Your house is about to shelter itself under
the Tribune's; and when the Lord Adrian returns from Naples, the
innkeeper's son will be brother to your kinsman."

"You might spare me that taunt," said the old noble, with some emotion.
"Heaven knows how bitterly I have chafed at the thought; yet I would
Adrian were with us. His word goes far to moderate the Tribune, and to
guide my own course, for my passion beguiles my reason; and since his
departure methinks we have been the more sullen without being the more
strong. Let this pass. If my own son had wed the Tribune's sister, I
would yet strike a blow for the old constitution as becomes a noble, if
I but saw that the blow would not cut off my own head."

Savelli, who