United States or Egypt ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Walter, Heaven hath demented you!" returned Brettone. "Angelo Villani is the favourite menial of the Senator." "Those eyes deceived me, then," muttered Montreal, solemnly and shuddering; "and, as if her ghost had returned to earth, God smites me from the grave!" There was a long silence. At length Montreal, whose bold and sanguine temper was never long clouded, spoke again.
"Cast from you so vain a hope," said Brettone sullenly; "the soldiers are encamped at Palestrina." "How! Dolt fool! Came you then to Rome alone! Are we alone with this dread man?" "You are the dolt! Why came you hither?" answered the brother.
If the first, you are not my equal, but subordinate and you must obey and not dictate; if the last, my debt to you shall be discharged, and the world is wide enough for both." "We have declared allegiance to you," answered Brettone, "and it shall be given." "One caution before I re-accept your fealty," replied Rienzi, very slowly.
"Brettone," said Arimbaldo at length, in a whispered voice, "my heart misgives me. I like not Walter's ambitious schemes. With our own countrymen we are frank and loyal, why play the traitor with this high-souled Roman?" "Tush!" said Brettone. "Our brother's hand of iron alone can sway this turbulent people; and if Rienzi be betrayed, so also are his enemies, the Barons. No more of this!
Stretched on the ground in his cloak, and leaning his head thoughtfully on his hand, was a man of tall stature, and middle age. He lifted himself on his arm with great alacrity as the Cavalier entered. "Well, Brettone, I have counted the hours what tidings?" "Albornoz consents." "Glad news! Thou givest me new life. Pardieu, I shall breakfast all the better for this, my brother.
"No," said Brettone, rousing himself; "the sum but trivially swells our debt." "Frankly said your hands once more! the good people of Tivoli expect me in the Piazza they require some admonitions. Adieu till noon." When the door closed on Rienzi, Brettone struck the handle of his sword fiercely "The Roman laughs at us," said he.
"For an open foe, I have my sword for a traitor, mark me, Rome has the axe; of the first I have no fear; for the last, no mercy." "These are not words that should pass between friends," said Brettone, turning pale with suppressed emotion. "Friends! ye are my friends, then! your hands! Friends, so ye are! and shall prove it! Dear Arimbaldo, thou, like myself, art book-learned, a clerkly soldier.
Besides," continued the Knight, lowering his voice, and shading his face, "I had vowed a pilgrimage to the beloved river, and the old trysting-place. Ah me! But all this, Brettone, thou understandest not let it pass. As for my safety, since we have come to this amnesty with Albornoz, I fear but little danger even if discovered: besides, I want the florins.
Meanwhile, uniting to all his rasher and all his nobler qualities, a profound dissimulation, he appeared to trust implicitly to his Provencal companions; and his first act on entering the Capitol, after the triumphal procession, was to reward with the highest dignities in his gift, Messere Arimbaldo and Messere Brettone de Montreal!
"I am glad, Senator," answered Brettone, "that you have tidings which will counteract the ill of those I have to narrate to thee. The soldiers murmur loudly their pay is due to them; and, I fear me, that without money they will not march to Palestrina." "As they will," returned Rienzi, carelessly.
Word Of The Day