zi knew better, but he concealed his
thoughts.

He now summoned to his tent the brothers of Provence, and announced
to them his intention of returning instantly to Rome. "The mercenaries
shall continue the siege under our Lieutenant, and you, with my Roman
Legion, shall accompany me. Your brother, Sir Walter, and I, both want
your presence; we have affairs to arrange between us. After a few days I
shall raise recruits in the city, and return."

This was what the brothers desired; they approved, with evident joy, the
Senator's proposition.

Rienzi next sent for the lieutenant of his bodyguard, the same Riccardo
Annibaldi whom the reader will remember in the earlier part of this
work, as the antagonist of Montreal's lance. This young man--one of
the few nobles who espoused the cause of the Senator--had evinced great
courage and military ability, and promised fair (should Fate spare his
life (It appears that this was the same Annibaldi who was afterwards
slain in an affray:--Petrarch lauds his valour and laments his fate.))
to become one of the best Captains of his time.

"Dear Annibaldi," said Rienzi; "at length I can fulfil the project
on which we have privately conferred. I take with me to Rome the two
Provencal Captains--I leave you chief of the army. Palestrina will yield
now--eh!--ha, ha, ha!--Palestrina will yield now!"

"By my right hand, I think so, Senator," replied Annibaldi. "These
foreigners have hitherto only stirred up quarrels amongst ourselves, and
if not cowards are certainly traitors!"

"Hush, hush, hush! Traitors! The learned Arimbaldo, the brave Brettone,
traitors! Fie on it! No, no; they are very excellent, honourable men,
but not lucky in the camp;--not lucky in the camp;--better speed to them
in the city! And now to business."

The Senator then detailed to Annibaldi the plan he himself had formed
for taking the town, and the military skill of Annibaldi at once
recognised its feasibility.

With his Roman troop, and Montreal's brothers, one at either hand,
Rienzi then departed to Rome.

That night Montreal gave a banquet to Pandulfo di Guido, and to certain
of the principal citizens, whom one by one he had already sounded, and
found hollow at heart to the cause of the Senator.

Pandulfo sate at the right hand of the Knight of St. John, and Montreal
lavished upon him the most courteous attentions.

"Pledge me in this--it is from the Vale of Chiana, near Monte Pulciano,"
said Montreal. "I