vidently striving to suppress his emotion,
as he observed the terror he had excited--his eye fell upon Nina, who,
forgetting her previous vexation, regarded him with anxious amazement.
"Yes," said he to her, "you alone, perhaps, of this fair assemblage,
know not that the nobles whom I lately released from the headsman's
gripe are a second time forsworn. They have left home in the dead of the
night, and already the Heralds proclaim them traitors and rebels. Rienzi
forgives no more!"

"Tribune," exclaimed the Signora Frangipani, who had more bold blood in
her veins than her whole house, "were I of thine own sex, I would
cast the words, Traitor and Rebel, given to my Lord, in thine own
teeth!--Proud man, the Pontiff soon will fulfil that office!"

"Your Lord is blest with a dove, fair one," said the Tribune,
scornfully. "Ladies, fear not, while Rienzi lives, the wife even of his
worst foe is safe and honoured. The crowd will be here anon; our guards
shall attend ye home in safety, or this palace may be your shelter--for,
I warn ye, that your Lords have rushed into a great peril. And ere many
days be past, the streets of Rome may be as rivers of blood."

"We accept your offer, Tribune," said the Signora Frangipani, who was
touched, and, in spite of herself, awed by the Tribune's manner. And
as she spoke, she dropped on one knee, picked up the kerchief, and,
presenting it respectfully to Nina, said, "Madam, forgive me. I alone of
these present respect you more in danger than in pride."

"And I," returned Nina, as she leaned in graceful confidence on Rienzi's
arm, "I reply, that if there be danger, the more need of pride."

All that day and all that night rang the great bell of the Capitol. But
on the following daybreak, the assemblage was thin and scattered; there
was a great fear stricken into the hearts of the people, by the flight
of the Barons, and they bitterly and loudly upbraided Rienzi for sparing
them to this opportunity of mischief. That day the rumours continued;
the murmurers for the most part remained within their houses, or
assembled in listless and discontented troops. The next day dawned; the
same lethargy prevailed. The Tribune summoned his Council, (which was a
Representative assembly.)

"Shall we go forth as we are," said he, "with such few as will follow
the Roman standard!"

"No," replied Pandulfo, who, by nature timid, was yet well acquainted
with the disposition of the people, and therefore a sa