for
his own objects.

The open appearance of Montreal excited in Rome no inconsiderable
sensation. The friends of the Barons gave out that Rienzi was in league
with the Grand Company; and that he was to sell the imperial city to
the plunder and pillage of Barbarian robbers. The effrontery with which
Montreal (against whom, more than once, the Pontiff had thundered his
bulls) appeared in the Metropolitan City of the Church, was made yet
more insolent by the recollection of that stern justice which had led
the Tribune to declare open war against all the robbers of Italy: and
this audacity was linked with the obvious reflection, that the brothers
of the bold Provencal were the instruments of Rienzi's return. So
quickly spread suspicion through the city, that Montreal's presence
alone would in a few weeks have sufficed to ruin the Senator. Meanwhile,
the natural boldness of Montreal silenced every whisper of prudence;
and, blinded by the dazzle of his hopes, the Knight of St. John, as
if to give double importance to his coming, took up his residence in a
sumptuous palace, and his retinue rivalled, in the splendour of garb and
pomp, the display of Rienzi himself in his earlier and more brilliant
power.

Amidst the growing excitement, Angelo Villani arrived at Rome.
The character of this young man had been formed by his peculiar
circumstances. He possessed qualities which often mark the Illegitimate
as with a common stamp. He was insolent--like most of those who hold a
doubtful rank; and while ashamed of his bastardy, was arrogant of the
supposed nobility of his unknown parentage. The universal ferment and
agitation of Italy at that day rendered ambition the most common of all
the passions, and thus ambition, in all its many shades and varieties,
forces itself into our delineations of character in this history. Though
not for Angelo Villani were the dreams of the more lofty and generous
order of that sublime infirmity, he was strongly incited by the desire
and resolve to rise. He had warm affections and grateful impulses; and
his fidelity to his patron had been carried to a virtue: but from his
irregulated and desultory education, and the reckless profligacy of
those with whom, in ante-chambers and guard-rooms, much of his youth had
been passed, he had neither high principles nor an enlightened honour.
Like most Italians, cunning and shrewd, he scrupled not at any deceit
that served a purpose or a friend. His strong attach