by Asciano upon Sienna.
For sixteen thousand florins we spared that city; and we now hang like
a thunderbolt over Florence, which dared to send her puny aid to the
defence of Rimini. Our marches are forced and rapid and our camp in this
plain but just pitched."

"I hear that the Grand Company is allied with Albornoz, and that its
General is secretly the soldier of the Church. Is it so?"

"Ay--Albornoz and I understand one another," replied Montreal,
carelessly; "and not the less so that we have a mutual foe; whom both
are sworn to crush, in Visconti, the archbishop of Milan."

"Visconti! the most potent of the Italian princes. That he has justly
incurred the wrath of the Church I know--and I can readily understand
that Innocent has revoked the pardon which the intrigues of the
Archbishop purchased from Clement VI. But I do not see clearly why
Montreal should willingly provoke so dark and terrible a foe."

Montreal smiled sternly. "Know you not," he said, "the vast ambition of
that Visconti? By the Holy Sepulchre, he is precisely the enemy my soul
leaps to meet! He has a genius worthy to cope with Montreal's. I have
made myself master of his secret plans--they are gigantic! In a word,
the Archbishop designs the conquest of all Italy. His enormous wealth
purchases the corrupt--his dark sagacity ensnares the credulous--his
daring valour awes the weak. Every enemy he humbles--every ally he
enslaves. This is precisely the Prince whose progress Walter de Montreal
must arrest. For this (he said in a whisper as to himself) is precisely
the Prince who, if suffered to extend his power, will frustrate the
plans and break the force of Walter de Montreal."

Adrian was silent, and for the first time a suspicion of the real nature
of the Provencal's designs crossed his breast.

"But, noble Montreal," resumed the Colonna, "give me, if your knowledge
serves, as no doubt it does,--give me the latest tidings of my native
city. I am Roman, and Rome is ever in my thoughts."

"And well she may," replied Montreal, quickly. "Thou knowest that
Albornoz, as Legate of the Pontiff, led the army of the Church into the
Papal Territories. He took with him Cola di Rienzi. Arrived at Monte
Fiascone, crowds of Romans of all ranks hastened thither to render
homage to the Tribune. The Legate was forgotten in the popularity of
his companion. Whether or not Albornoz grew jealous--for he is proud as
Lucifer--of the respect paid to the Tribune, or whe