Yes! I have listened to you--the other eve, when you addressed the populace, and today, when you rebuked the nobles; and at midnight, too, not long since, when (your ear, fair Sir!--lower, it is a secret!)--at midnight, too, when you administered the oath of brotherhood to the bold conspirators, on the ruined Aventine!" As he concluded, the Knight drew himself aside to watch, upon Rienzi's countenance, the effect which his words might produce.
A slight tremor passed over the frame of the conspirator--for so, unless the conspiracy succeed, would Rienzi be termed, by others than Montreal: he turned abruptly round to confront the Knight, and placed his hand involuntarily on his sword, but presently relinquished the grasp.
"Ha!" said the Roman, slowly, "if this be true, fall Rome! There is treason even among the free!" "No treason, brave Sir!" answered Montreal; "I possess thy secret--but none have betrayed it to me." "And is it as friend or foe that thou hast learned it ?" "That as it may be," returned Montreal, carelessly.

"Enough, at present, that I could send thee to the gibbet, if I said but the word,--to show my power to be thy foe; enough, that I have not done it, to prove my disposition to be thy friend." "Thou mistakest, stranger! that man does not live who could shed my blood in the streets of Rome! The gibbet! Little dost thou know of the power which surrounds Rienzi." These words were said with some scorn and bitterness; but, after a moment's pause, Rienzi resumed, more calmly:-- "By the cross on thy mantle, thou belongest to one of the proudest orders of knighthood: thou art a foreigner, and a cavalier.

What generous sympathies can convert thee into a friend of the Roman people ?" "Cola di Rienzi," returned Montreal, "the sympathies that unite us are those which unite all men who, by their own efforts, rise above the herd.

True, I was born noble--but powerless and poor: at my beck now move, from city to city, the armed instruments of authority: my breath is the law of thousands.

This empire I have not inherited; I won it by a cool brain and a fearless arm.