l!"

Still Adrian continued gallantly and unwounded to defend himself, though
his arm now grew tired, his breath well-nigh spent, and his eyes began
to wink and reel beneath the glare of the tossing torches. Orsini
himself, exhausted by his fury, had paused for an instant, fronting
his foe with a heaving breast and savage looks, when, suddenly,
his followers exclaimed, "Fly! fly!--the bandits approach--we are
surrounded!"--and two of the servitors, without further parley, took
fairly to their heels. The other five remained irresolute, and waiting
but the command of their master, when he of the white plume, whom I have
just described, thrust himself into the melee.

"What! gentles," said he, "have ye finished already? Nay, let us not
mar the sport; begin again, I beseech you. What are the odds? Ho! six
to one!--nay, no wonder that ye have waited for fairer play. See, we two
will take the weaker side. Now then, let us begin again."

"Insolent!" cried the Orsini. "Knowest thou him whom thou addressest
thus arrogantly?--I am Martino di Porto. Who art thou?"

"Walter de Montreal, gentleman of Provence, and Knight of St. John!"
answered the other, carelessly.

At that redoubted name--the name of one of the boldest warriors, and of
the most accomplished freebooter of his time--even Martino's cheek grew
pale, and his followers uttered a cry of terror.

"And this, my comrade," continued the Knight, "for we may as well
complete the introduction, is probably better known to you than I am,
gentles of Rome; and you doubtless recognize in him Rodolf of Saxony, a
brave man and a true, where he is properly paid for his services."

"Signor," said Adrian to his enemy, who, aghast and dumb, remained
staring vacantly at the two new-comers, "you are now in my power. See,
our own people, too, are approaching."

And, indeed, from the palace of Stephen Colonna, torches began to blaze,
and armed men were seen rapidly advancing to the spot.

"Go home in peace, and if, tomorrow, or any day more suitable to thee,
thou wilt meet me alone, and lance to lance, as is the wont of the
knights of the empire; or with band to band, and man for man, as is
rather the Roman custom; I will not fail thee--there is my gage."

"Nobly spoken," said Montreal; "and, if ye choose the latter, by your
leave, I will be one of the party."

Martino answered not; he took up the glove, thrust it in his bosom, and
strode hastily away; only, when he had got some p