oclaimed Senator of Rome.

Meanwhile the soldier had placed Angelo on the ground; and as the page
faltered out no courteous thanks, he interrupted him in a sad and kind
voice, the tone of which struck the page forcibly, so little did it suit
the rough and homely appearance of the man.

"We part," he said, "as strangers, fair boy; and since thou sayest thou
art of Rome, there is no reason why my heart should have warmed to thee
as it has done; yet if ever thou wantest a friend,--seek him"--and the
soldier's voice sunk into a whisper--"in Walter de Montreal."

Ere the page recovered his surprise at that redoubted name, which his
earliest childhood had been taught to dread, the Knight of St. John had
vanished amongst the crowd.

Chapter 7.IX. Albornoz and Nina.

But the eyes which, above all others, thirsted for a glimpse of the
released captive were forbidden that delight. Alone in her chamber, Nina
awaited the result of the trial. She heard the shouts, the exclamations,
the tramp of thousands along the street; she felt that the victory was
won; and, her heart long overcharged, she burst into passionate tears.
The return of Angelo soon acquainted her with all that had passed; but
it somewhat chilled her joy to find Rienzi was the guest of the dreaded
Cardinal. That shock, in which certainty, however happy, replaces
suspense, had so powerful an effect on her frame, joined to her loathing
fear of a visit from the Cardinal, that she became for three days
alarmingly ill; and it was only on the fifth day from that which saw
Rienzi endowed with the rank of Senator of Rome, that she was recovered
sufficiently to admit Albornoz to her presence.

The Cardinal had sent daily to inquire after her health, and his
inquiries, to her alarmed mind, had appeared to insinuate a pretension
to the right to make them. Meanwhile Albornoz had had enough to divert
and occupy his thoughts. Having bought off the formidable Montreal from
the service of John de Vico, one of the ablest and fiercest enemies of
the Church, he resolved to march to the territories of that tyrant as
expeditiously as possible, and so not to allow him time to obtain the
assistance of any other band of the mercenary adventurers, who found
Italy the market for their valour. Occupied with raising troops,
procuring money, corresponding with the various free states, and
establishing alliances in aid of his ulterior and more ambitious
projects at the court of Avignon, t