"what
curse has befallen us? How could we have been so foolish as to tarry so
late at the lady Nina's! Run, Signora,--run, or we shall fall into their
hands!"

But the advice of Benedetta came too late,--the fluttering garments
of the women had been already descried: in a moment more they were
surrounded by the marauders. A rude hand tore aside Benedetta's veil,
and at sight of features, which, if time had not spared, it could never
very materially injure, the rough aggressor cast the poor nurse against
the wall with a curse, which was echoed by a loud laugh from his
comrades.

"Thou hast a fine fortune in faces Giuseppe!"

"Yes; it was but the other day that he seized on a girl of sixty."

"And then, by way of improving her beauty, cut her across the face with
his dagger, because she was not sixteen!"

"Hush, fellows! whom have we here?" said the chief of the party, a man
richly dressed, and who, though bordering upon middle age, had only
the more accustomed himself to the excesses of youth; as he spoke,
he snatched the trembling Irene from the grasp of his followers. "Ho,
there! the torches! Oh che bella faccia! what blushes--what eyes!--nay,
look not down, pretty one; thou needst not be ashamed to win the love
of an Orsini--yes; know the triumph thou hast achieved--it is Martino di
Porto who bids thee smile upon him!"

"For the blest Mother's sake release me! Nay, sir, this must not be--I
am not unfriended--this insult shall not pass!"

"Hark to her silver chiding; it is better than my best hound's bay!
This adventure is worth a month's watching. What! will you not
come?--restive--shrieks too!--Francesco, Pietro, ye are the gentlest of
the band. Wrap her veil around her,--muffle this music;--so! bear her
before me to the palace, and tomorrow, sweet one, thou shalt go home
with a basket of florins which thou mayest say thou hast bought at
market."

But Irene's shrieks, Irene's struggles, had already brought succour to
her side, and, as Adrian approached the spot, the nurse flung herself on
her knees before him.

"Oh, sweet signor, for Christ's grace save us! Deliver my young
mistress--her friends love you well! We are all for the Colonna,
my lord; yes, indeed, all for the Colonna! Save the kin of your own
clients, gracious signor!"

"It is enough that she is a woman," answered Adrian, adding, between his
teeth, "and that an Orsini is her assailant." He strode haughtily into
the thickest of the group; th