"By what means was this effected ?" "A stern command and a strong force to back it.

At the first sound of the great bell, twenty thousand Romans rise in arms.

What to such an army are the brigands of an Orsini or a Colonna ?--Sir Knight, your valour and renown make even Rome admire you; and I, a Roman, bid you beware." "Well, I thank thee--thy news, friend, robs me of breath.

So the Barons submit, then ?" "Yes: on the first day, one of the Colonna, the Lord Adrian, took the oath; within a week, Stephen, assured of safe conduct, left Palestrina, the Savelli in his train; the Orsini followed--even Martino di Porto has silently succumbed." "The Tribune--but is that his dignity--methought he was to be king--" "He was offered, and he refused, the title.

His present rank, which arrogates no patrician honours, went far to conciliate the nobles." "A wise knave!--I beg pardon, a sagacious prince!--Well, then, the Tribune lords it mightily, I suppose, over the great Roman names ?" "Pardon me--he enforces impartial justice from peasant or patrician; but he preserves to the nobles all their just privileges and legal rank." "Ha!--and the vain puppets, so they keep the semblance, scarce miss the substance--I understand.