other's throats, and make all Italy
one grave."

With this benevolent speech, Rodolf entered the closet; but ere Rienzi
could close the door, he stepped forth again--

"Hold," said he: "this blood flows fast. Help me to bandage it, or I
shall bleed to death ere my confession."

"Per fede," said the Tribune, his strange humour enjoying the man's cool
audacity; "but, considering the service thou wouldst have rendered me,
thou art the most pleasant, forbearing, unabashed, good fellow, I have
seen this many a year. Give us thine own belt. I little thought my first
eve of knighthood would have been so charitably spent!"

"Methinks these robes would make a better bandage," said Rodolf,
pointing to the priests' gear suspended from the wall.

"Silence, knave," said the Tribune, frowning; "no sacrilege! Yet, as
thou takest such dainty care of thyself, thou shalt have mine own scarf
to accommodate thee."

With that the Tribune, placing his dagger on the ground, while he
cautiously guarded it with his foot, bound up the wounded limb, for
which condescension Rodolf gave him short thanks; resumed his weapon and
lamp; closed the door; drew over it the long, heavy bolt without, and
returned to his couch, deeply and indignantly musing over the treason he
had so fortunately escaped.

At the first grey streak of dawn he went out of the great door of the
church, called the sentry, who was one of his own guard, and bade him
privately, and now ere the world was astir, convey the prisoner to one
of the private dungeons of the Capitol. "Be silent," said he: "utter not
a word of this to any one; be obedient, and thou shalt be promoted. This
done, find out the councillor, Pandulfo di Guido, and bid him seek me
here ere the crowd assemble."

He then, making the sentinel doff his heavy shoes of iron, led him
across the church, resigned Rodolf to his care, saw them depart, and
in a few minutes afterwards his voice was heard by the inmates of the
neighbouring chapel; and he was soon surrounded by his train.

He was already standing on the floor, wrapped in a large gown lined with
furs; and his piercing eye scanned carefully the face of each man that
approached. Two of the Barons of the Frangipani family exhibited
some tokens of confusion and embarrassment, from which they speedily
recovered at the frank salutation of the Tribune.

But all the art of Savelli could not prevent his features from betraying
to the most indifferent eye the te