“How!” cried Montreal, in great surprise.

“Not only have they returned, but they have submitted to the dispersion of all their mercenaries, and the dismantling of all their fortifications.  The iron of the Orsini palace now barricades the Capitol, and the stonework of the Colonna and the Savelli has added new battlements to the gates of the Lateran and St. Laurence.”

“Wonderful man!” said Montreal, with reluctant admiration.  “By what means was this effected?”

“A stern command and a strong force to back it.  At the first sound of the great bell, twenty thousand Romans rise in arms.  What to such an army are the brigands of an Orsini or a Colonna?—­Sir Knight, your valour and renown make even Rome admire you; and I, a Roman, bid you beware.”

“Well, I thank thee—­thy news, friend, robs me of breath.  So the Barons submit, then?”

“Yes:  on the first day, one of the Colonna, the Lord Adrian, took the oath; within a week, Stephen, assured of safe conduct, left Palestrina, the Savelli in his train; the Orsini followed—­even Martino di Porto has silently succumbed.”

“The Tribune—­but is that his dignity—­methought he was to be king—­”

“He was offered, and he refused, the title.  His present rank, which arrogates no patrician honours, went far to conciliate the nobles.”

“A wise knave!—­I beg pardon, a sagacious prince!—­Well, then, the Tribune lords it mightily, I suppose, over the great Roman names?”

“Pardon me—­he enforces impartial justice from peasant or patrician; but he preserves to the nobles all their just privileges and legal rank.”

“Ha!—­and the vain puppets, so they keep the semblance, scarce miss the substance—­I understand.  But this shows genius—­the Tribune is unwed, I think.  Does he look among the Colonna for a wife?”

“Sir Knight, the Tribune is already married; within three days after his ascension to power, he won and bore home the daughter of the Baron di Raselli.”

“Raselli! no great name; he might have done better.”

“But it is said,” resumed the youth, smiling, “that the Tribune will shortly be allied to the Colonna, through his fair sister the Signora Irene.  The Baron di Castello woos her.”

“What, Adrian Colonna!  Enough! you have convinced me that a man who contents the people and awes or conciliates the nobles is born for empire.  My answer to this letter I will send myself.  For your news, Sir Messenger, accept this jewel,” and the knight took from his finger a gem of some price.  “Nay, shrink not, it was as freely given to me as it is now to thee.”

The youth, who had been agreeably surprised, and impressed, by the manner of the renowned freebooter, and who was not a little astonished himself with the ease and familiarity with which he had been relating to Fra Moreale, in his own fortress, the news of Rome, bowed low as he accepted the gift.