Vivaldi.

"The Grand Company--(heed me, ye are the counsellors)--the Grand Company
is accustomed to forced marches!"

"Viva Fra Moreale!" cried Bruttini and Vivaldi, simultaneously. "A
health to all, my friends;" continued Bruttini; "a health to the Barons,
Rome's old friends; to Pandulfo di Guido, the Senator's new colleague,
and to Fra Moreale, Rome's new Podesta."

"The bell has ceased," said Vivaldi, putting down his goblet.

"Heaven have mercy on the robber!" added Bruttini.

Scarce had he spoken, ere three taps were heard at the door--the guests
looked at each other in dumb amaze.

"New guests!" said Montreal. "I asked some trusty friends to join us
this evening. By my faith they are welcome! Enter!"

The door opened slowly; three by three entered, in complete armour, the
guards of the Senator. On they marched, regular and speechless. They
surrounded the festive board--they filled the spacious hall, and the
lights of the banquet were reflected upon their corselets as on a wall
of steel.

Not a syllable was uttered by the feasters, they were as if turned to
stone. Presently the guards gave way, and Rienzi himself appeared. He
approached the table, and folding his arms, turned his gaze deliberately
from guest to guest, till at last, his eyes rested on Montreal, who had
also risen, and who alone of the party had recovered the amaze of the
moment.

And there, as these two men, each so celebrated, so proud, able, and
ambitious, stood, front to front--it was literally as if the rival
Spirits of Force and Intellect, Order and Strife, of the Falchion and
the Fasces--the Antagonist Principles by which empires are ruled and
empires overthrown, had met together, incarnate and opposed. They
stood, both silent,--as if fascinated by each other's gaze,--loftier in
stature, and nobler in presence than all around.

Montreal spoke first, and with a forced smile.

"Senator of Rome!--dare I believe that my poor banquet tempts thee, and
may I trust that these armed men are a graceful compliment to one to
whom arms have been a pastime?"

Rienzi answered not, but waved his hand to his guards. Montreal was
seized on the instant. Again he surveyed the guests--as a bird from the
rattle-snake,--shrunk Pandulfo di Guido, trembling, motionless, aghast,
from the glittering eye of the Senator. Slowly Rienzi raised his
fatal hand towards the unhappy citizen--Pandulfo saw,--felt his
doom,--shrieked,--and fell senseless in the arms