e servitors laid hands on their swords, but
gave way before him as they recognised his person; he reached the two
men who had already seized Irene; in one moment he struck the foremost
to the ground, in another, he had passed his left arm round the light
and slender form of the maiden, and stood confronting the Orsini with
his drawn blade, which, however, he pointed to the ground.

"For shame, my lord--for shame!" said he, indignantly. "Will you force
Rome to rise, to a man, against our order? Vex not too far the lion,
chained though he be; war against us if ye will! draw your blades upon
men, though they be of your own race, and speak your own tongue: but
if ye would sleep at nights, and not dread the avenger's gripe,--if ye
would walk the market-place secure,--wrong not a Roman woman! Yes, the
very walls around us preach to you the punishment of such a deed: for
that offence fell the Tarquins,--for that offence were swept away the
Decemvirs,--for that offence, if ye rush upon it, the blood of your
whole house may flow like water. Cease, then, my lord, from this mad
attempt, so unworthy your great name; cease, and thank even a Colonna
that he has come between you and a moment's frenzy!"

So noble, so lofty were the air and gesture of Adrian, as he thus
spoke, that even the rude servitors felt a thrill of approbation and
remorse--not so Martino di Porto. He had been struck with the beauty of
the prey thus suddenly snatched from him; he had been accustomed to
long outrage and to long impunity; the very sight, the very voice of a
Colonna, was a blight to his eye and a discord to his ear: what, then,
when a Colonna interfered with his lusts, and rebuked his vices?

"Pedant!" he cried, with quivering lips, "prate not to me of thy vain
legends and gossip's tales! think not to snatch from me my possession
in another, when thine own life is in my hands. Unhand the maiden! throw
down thy sword! return home without further parley, or, by my faith, and
the blades of my followers--(look at them well!)--thou diest!"

"Signor," said Adrian, calmly, yet while he spoke he retreated gradually
with his fair burthen towards the neighbouring wall, so as at least to
leave only his front exposed to those fearful odds: "Thou will not so
misuse the present chances, and wrong thyself in men's mouths, as to
attack with eight swords even thy hereditary foe, thus cumbered, too, as
he is. But--nay hold!--if thou art so proposed, bethink thee wel