“How! what means this?” said Rienzi, standing before Nina, with his drawn sword.

The intruder lifted his visor—­it was Adrian Colonna.

“Fly, Rienzi!—­hasten, Signora!  Thank Heaven, I can save ye yet!  Myself and train released by the capture of Palestrina, the pain of my wound detained me last night at Tivoli.  The town was filled with armed men—­not thine, Senator.  I heard rumours that alarmed me.  I resolved to proceed onward—­I reached Rome, the gates of the city were wide open!”

“How!”

“Your guard gone.  Presently I came upon a band of the retainers of the Savelli.  My insignia, as a Colonna, misled them.  I learned that this very hour some of your enemies are within the city, the rest are on their march—­the people themselves arm against you.  In the obscurer streets I passed through, the mob were already forming.  They took me for thy foe, and shouted.  I came hither—­thy sentries have vanished.  The private door below is unbarred and open.  Not a soul seems left in thy palace.  Haste—­fly—­save thyself!—­Where is Irene?”

“The Capitol deserted!—­impossible!” cried Rienzi.  He strode across the chambers to the ante-room, where his night-guard usually waited—­it was empty!  He passed hastily to Villani’s room—­it was untenanted!  He would have passed farther, but the doors were secured without.  It was evident that all egress had been cut off, save by the private door below,—­and that had been left open to admit his murtherers!

He returned to his room—­Nina had already gone to rouse and prepare Irene, whose chamber was on the other side, within one of their own.

“Quick, Senator!” said Adrian.  “Methinks there is yet time.  We must make across to the Tiber.  I have stationed my faithful squires and Northmen there.  A boat waits us.”

“Hark!” interrupted Rienzi, whose senses had of late been preternaturally quickened.  “I hear a distant shout—­a familiar shout, ’Viva ‘l Popolo!’ Why, so say I!  These must be friends.”

“Deceive not thyself; thou hast scarce a friend at Rome.”

“Hist!” said Rienzi, in a whisper; “save Nina—­save Irene.  I cannot accompany thee.”

“Art thou mad?”

“No! but fearless.  Besides, did I accompany, I might but destroy you all.  Were I found with you, you would be massacred with me.  Without me ye are safe.  Yes, even the Senator’s wife and sister have provoked no revenge.  Save them, noble Colonna!  Cola di Rienzi puts his trust in God alone!”

By this time Nina had returned; Irene with her.  Afar was heard the tramp—­steady—­slow—­gathering—­of the fatal multitude.

“Now, Cola,” said Nina, with a bold and cheerful air, and she took her husband’s arm, while Adrian had already found his charge in Irene.

“Yes, now, Nina!” said Rienzi; “at length we part!  If this is my last hour—­in my last hour I pray God to bless and shield thee! for verily, thou hast been my exceeding solace—­provident as a parent, tender as a child, the smile of my hearth, the—­the—­”