d composure of Montreal once more returning.

"None!" said Montreal, as his brow again darkened. "No love-begotten
heir of mine will succeed to the fortunes I trust yet to build. Never
on earth shall I see upon the face of her child the likeness of Adeline!
Yet, at Avignon, I saw a boy I would have claimed; for methought she
must have looked her soul into his eyes, they were so like hers! Well,
well! The Provence tree hath other branches; and some unborn nephew must
be--what? The stars have not yet decided! But ambition is now the only
thing in the world left me to love."

"So differently operates the same misfortune upon different characters,"
thought the Colonna. "To me, crowns became valueless when I could no
longer dream of placing them on Irene's brow!"

The similarity of their fates, however, attracted Adrian strongly
towards his host; and the two Knights conversed together with more
friendship and unreserve than they had hitherto done. At length Montreal
said, "By the way, I have not inquired your destination."

"I am bound to Rome," said Adrian; "and the intelligence I have learned
from you incites me thitherward yet more eagerly. If Rienzi return, I
may mediate successfully, perchance, between the Tribune-Senator and the
nobles; and if I find my cousin, young Stefanello, now the head of
our house, more tractable than his sires, I shall not despair of
conciliating the less powerful Barons. Rome wants repose; and whoever
governs, if he govern but with justice, ought to be supported both by
prince and plebeian!"

Montreal listened with great attention, and then muttered to himself,
"No, it cannot be!" He mused a little while, shading his brow with his
hand, before he said aloud, "To Rome you are bound. Well, we shall meet
soon amidst its ruins. Know, by the way, that my object here is already
won: these Florentine merchants have acceded to my terms; they have
purchased a two years' peace; tomorrow the camp breaks up, and the
Grand Company march to Lombardy. There, if my schemes prosper, and
the Venetians pay my price, I league the rascals (under Landau, my
Lieutenant) with the Sea-City, in defiance of the Visconti, and shall
pass my autumn in peace amidst the pomps of Rome."

"Sir Walter de Montreal," said Adrian, "your frankness perhaps makes
me presumptuous; but when I hear you talk, like a huxtering trader, of
selling alike your friendship and your forbearance, I ask myself, 'Is
this the great Knight of S