in youth. It was mine at his age, and
many a time have I nearly lost my life for the rashness. Nay, Signor,
nay!--touch not your sword so meaningly, as if you fancied I intimated a
threat; far from me such presumption. I have learned sufficient caution,
believe me, in the wars, not wantonly to draw against me a blade which I
have seen wielded against such odds."

Touched, despite himself, by the courtesy of the Knight, and the
allusion to a scene in which, perhaps, his life had been preserved by
Montreal, Adrian extended his hand to the latter.

"I was to blame for my haste," said he, frankly; "but know, by my very
heat," he added more gravely, "that your project will find no friends
among the Colonna. Nay, in the presence of my noble kinsman, I dare
to tell you, that could even his high sanction lend itself to such a
scheme, the best hearts of his house would desert him; and I myself, his
kinsman, would man yonder castle against so unnatural an ambition!"

A slight and scarce perceptible cloud passed over Montreal's countenance
at these words; and he bit his lip ere he replied:

"Yet if the Orsini be less scrupulous, their first exertion of power
would be heard in the crashing house of the Colonna."

"Know you," returned Adrian, "that one of our mottoes is this haughty
address to the Romans,--'If we fall, ye fall also?' And better that
fate, than a rise upon the wrecks of our native city."

"Well, well, well!" said Montreal, reseating himself, "I see that I must
leave Rome to herself,--the League must thrive without her aid. I did
but jest, touching the Orsini, for they have not the power that would
make their efforts safe. Let us sweep, then, our past conference from
our recollection. It is the nineteenth, I think, Lord Colonna, on which
you propose to repair to Corneto, with your friends and retainers, and
on which you have invited my attendance?"

"It is on that day, Sir Knight," replied the Baron, evidently much
relieved by the turn the conversation had assumed. "The fact is, that
we have been so charged with indifference to the interests of the good
people, that I strain a point in this expedition to contradict the
assertion; and we propose, therefore, to escort and protect, against the
robbers of the road, a convoy of corn to Corneto. In truth, I may add
another reason, besides fear of the robbers, that makes me desire as
numerous a train as possible. I wish to show my enemies, and the people
generally, th