m the
rays that surround the Spirit of God extend two flaming swords, and
on those swords stand, in wrath, but in deliverance, the two patron
saints--the two mighty guardians of your city! People of Rome, farewell!
The parable is finished." (M. Sismondi attributes to Rienzi a fine
oration at the showing of the picture, in which he thundered against
the vices of the patricians. The contemporary biographer of Rienzi
says nothing of this harangue. But, apparently (since history has its
liberties as well as fiction), M. Sismondi has thought it convenient to
confound two occasions very distinct in themselves.)

Chapter 1.X. A Rough Spirit Raised, Which May Hereafter Rend the Wizard.

While thus animated was the scene around the Capitol, within one of
the apartments of the palace sat the agent and prime cause of that
excitement. In the company of his quiet scribes, Rienzi appeared
absorbed in the patient details of his avocation. While the murmur and
the hum, the shout and the tramp, of multitudes, rolled to his chamber,
he seemed not to heed them, nor to rouse himself a moment from his task.
With the unbroken regularity of an automaton, he continued to enter
in his large book, and with the clear and beautiful characters of
the period, those damning figures which taught him, better than
declamations, the frauds practised on the people, and armed him with
that weapon of plain fact which it is so difficult for abuse to parry.

"Page 2, Vol. B.," said he, in the tranquil voice of business, to the
clerks; "see there, the profits of the salt duty; department No.3--very
well. Page 9, Vol. D.--what is the account rendered by Vescobaldi, the
collector? What! twelve thousand florins?--no more?--unconscionable
rascal!" (Here was a loud shout without of 'Pandulfo!--long live
Pandulfo!') "Pastrucci, my friend, your head wanders; you are listening
to the noise without--please to amuse yourself with the calculation I
entrusted to you. Santi, what is the entry given in by Antonio Tralli?"

A slight tap was heard at the door, and Pandulfo entered.

The clerks continued their labour, though they looked up hastily at the
pale and respectable visitor, whose name, to their great astonishment,
had thus become a popular cry.

"Ah, my friend," said Rienzi, calmly enough in voice, but his hands
trembled with ill-suppressed emotion, "you would speak to me alone,
eh? well, well--this way." Thus saying, he led the citizen into a small
cabinet