“Aspire to be something greater than Free Companions, generals today, and adventurers tomorrow.  Rememberest thou, how the Norman sword won Sicily, and how the bastard William converted on the field of Hastings his baton into a sceptre.  I tell thee, Brettone, that this loose Italy has crowns on the hedge that a dexterous hand may carry off at the point of the lance.  My course is taken, I will form the fairest army in Italy, and with it I will win a throne in the Capitol.  Fool that I was six years ago!—­Instead of deputing that mad dolt Pepin of Minorbino, had I myself deserted the Hungarian, and repaired with my soldiery to Rome, the fall of Rienzi would have been followed by the rise of Montreal.  Pepin was outwitted, and threw away the prey after he had hunted it down.  The lion shall not again trust the chase to the jackal!”

“Walter, thou speakest of the fate of Rienzi, let it warn thee!”

“Rienzi!” replied Montreal; “I know the man!  In peaceful times or with an honest people, he would have founded a great dynasty.  But he dreamt of laws and liberty for men who despise the first and will not protect the last.  We, of a harder race, know that a new throne must be built by the feudal and not the civil system; and into the city we must transport the camp.  It is by the multitude that the proud Tribune gained power,—­by the multitude he lost it; it is by the sword that I will win it, and by the sword will I keep it!”

“Rienzi was too cruel, he should not have incensed the Barons,” said Brettone, about to finish the flask, when the strong hand of his brother plucked it from him, and anticipated the design.

“Pooh,” said Montreal, finishing the draught with a long sigh, “he was not cruel enough.  He sought only to be just, and not to distinguish between noble and peasant.  He should have distinguished!  He should have exterminated the nobles root and branch.  But this no Italian can do.  This is reserved for me.”

“Thou wouldst not butcher all the best blood of Rome?”

“Butcher!  No, but I would seize their lands, and endow with them a new nobility, the hardy and fierce nobility of the North, who well know how to guard their prince, and will guard him, as the fountain of their own power.  Enough of this now.  And talking of Rienzi—­rots he still in his dungeon?”

“Why, this morning, ere I left, I heard strange news.  The town was astir, groups in every corner.  They said that Rienzi’s trial was to be today, and from the names of the judges chosen, it is suspected that acquittal is already determined on.”

“Ha! thou shouldst have told me of this before.”

“Should he be restored to Rome, would it militate against thy plans?”

“Humph!  I know not—­deep thought and dexterous management would be needed.  I would fain not leave this spot till I hear what is decided on.”

“Surely, Walter, it would have been wiser and safer to have stayed with thy soldiery, and intrusted me with the absolute conduct of this affair.”