will win
it, and by the sword will I keep it!"

"Rienzi was too cruel, he should not have incensed the Barons," said
Brettone, about to finish the flask, when the strong hand of his brother
plucked it from him, and anticipated the design.

"Pooh," said Montreal, finishing the draught with a long sigh, "he was
not cruel enough. He sought only to be just, and not to distinguish
between noble and peasant. He should have distinguished! He should have
exterminated the nobles root and branch. But this no Italian can do.
This is reserved for me."

"Thou wouldst not butcher all the best blood of Rome?"

"Butcher! No, but I would seize their lands, and endow with them a new
nobility, the hardy and fierce nobility of the North, who well know how
to guard their prince, and will guard him, as the fountain of their own
power. Enough of this now. And talking of Rienzi--rots he still in his
dungeon?"

"Why, this morning, ere I left, I heard strange news. The town was
astir, groups in every corner. They said that Rienzi's trial was to be
today, and from the names of the judges chosen, it is suspected that
acquittal is already determined on."

"Ha! thou shouldst have told me of this before."

"Should he be restored to Rome, would it militate against thy plans?"

"Humph! I know not--deep thought and dexterous management would be
needed. I would fain not leave this spot till I hear what is decided
on."

"Surely, Walter, it would have been wiser and safer to have stayed
with thy soldiery, and intrusted me with the absolute conduct of this
affair."

"Not so," answered Montreal; "thou art a bold fellow enough, and a
cunning--but my head in these matters is better than thine. Besides,"
continued the Knight, lowering his voice, and shading his face, "I had
vowed a pilgrimage to the beloved river, and the old trysting-place. Ah
me!--But all this, Brettone, thou understandest not--let it pass. As for
my safety, since we have come to this amnesty with Albornoz, I fear but
little danger even if discovered: besides, I want the florins. There are
those in this country, Germans, who could eat an Italian army at a meal,
whom I would fain engage, and their leaders want earnest-money--the
griping knaves!--How are the Cardinal's florins to be paid?"

"Half now--half when thy troops are before Rimini!"

"Rimini! the thought whets my sword. Rememberest thou how that
accursed Malatesta drove me from Aversa, (This Malatesta, a signior of
ill