hief, who soon retired. Hastily
Adrian endued his arms--the air of the fresh morning, and the glad
sun rising gorgeously from the hills, revived his wearied spirit. He
repaired to Montreal's tent, and found him alone, with the implements of
writing before him, and a triumphant smile upon his countenance.

"Fortune showers new favours on me!" he said, gaily. "Yesterday the
Florentines spared me the trouble of a siege: and today (even since I
last saw you--a few minutes since) puts your new Senator of Rome into my
power."

"How! Have your bands then arrested Rienzi?"

"Not so--better still! The Tribune changed his plan, and repaired to
Perugia, where my brothers now abide--sought them--they have supplied
him with money and soldiers enough to brave the perils of the way, and
to defy the swords of the Barons. So writes my good brother Arimbaldo, a
man of letters, whom the Tribune thinks rightly he has decoyed with old
tales of Roman greatness, and mighty promises of grateful advancement.
You find me hastily expressing my content at the arrangement. My
brothers themselves will accompany the Senator-Tribune to the walls of
the Capitol."

"Still, I see not how this places Rienzi in your power."

"No! His soldiers are my creatures--his comrades my brothers--his
creditor myself! Let him rule Rome then--the time soon comes when the
Vice-Regent must yield to--"

"The Chief of the Grand Company," interrupted Adrian, with a shudder,
which the bold Montreal was too engrossed with the unconcealed
excitement of his own thoughts to notice. "No, Knight of Provence,
basely have we succumbed to domestic tyrants: but never, I trust, will
Romans be so vile as to wear the yoke of a foreign usurper."

Montreal looked hard at Adrian, and smiled sternly.

"You mistake me," said he; "and it will be time enough for you to play
the Brutus when I assume the Caesar. Meanwhile we are but host and
guest. Let us change the theme."

Nevertheless this, their latter conference, threw a chill over both
during the short time the Knights remained together, and they parted
with a formality which was ill-suited to their friendly intercourse of
the night before. Montreal felt he had in cautiously revealed himself,
but caution was no part of his character, whenever he found himself
at the head of an army, and at the full tide of fortune; and at that
moment, so confident was he of the success of his wildest schemes, that
he recked little whom he offende