ing loud defiance, was a prisoner in the
fortress of his kinsman.

Chapter 9.IV. The Position of the Senator.--The Work of Years.--The
Rewards of Ambition.

The indignation of Rienzi may readily be conceived, on the return of his
herald mutilated and dishonoured. His temper, so naturally stern, was
rendered yet more hard by the remembrance of his wrongs and trials; and
the result which attended his overtures of conciliation to Stefanello
Colonna stung him to the soul.

The bell of the Capitol tolled to arms within ten minutes after the
return of the herald. The great gonfalon of Rome was unfurled on the
highest tower; and the very evening after Adrian's arrest, the forces of
the Senator, headed by Rienzi in person, were on the road to Palestrina.
The troopers of the Barons had, however, made incursions as far as
Tivoli with the supposed connivance of the inhabitants, and Rienzi
halted at that beautiful spot to raise recruits, and receive the
allegiance of the suspected, while his soldiers, with Arimbaldo and
Brettone at their head, went in search of the marauders. The brothers of
Montreal returned late at night with the intelligence, that the troopers
of the Barons had secured themselves amidst the recesses of the wood of
Pantano.

The red spot mounted to Rienzi's brow. He gazed hard at Brettone, who
stated the news to him, and a natural suspicion shot across his mind.

"How!--escaped!" he said. "Is it possible? Enough of such idle
skirmishes with these lordly robbers. Will the hour ever come when I
shall meet them hand to hand? Brettone," and the brother of Montreal
felt the dark eye of Rienzi pierce to his very heart; "Brettone!" said
he, with an abrupt change of voice, "are your men to be trusted? Is
there no connivance with the Barons?"

"How!" said Brettone, sullenly, but somewhat confused.

"How me no hows!" quoth the Tribune-Senator, fiercely. "I know that thou
art a valiant Captain of valiant men. Thou and thy brother Arimbaldo
have served me well, and I have rewarded ye well! Have I not? Speak!"

"Senator," answered Arimbaldo, taking up the word, "you have kept your
word to us. You have raised us to the highest rank your power could
bestow, and this has amply atoned our humble services."

"I am glad ye allow thus much," said the Tribune.

Arimbaldo proceeded, somewhat more loftily, "I trust, my Lord, you do
not doubt us?"

"Arimbaldo," replied Rienzi, in a voice of deep, but half-suppressed
em