If my own son had wed the Tribune's sister, I would yet strike a blow for the old constitution as becomes a noble, if I but saw that the blow would not cut off my own head." Savelli, who had been whispering apart with Rinaldo Frangipani, now said-- "Noble Prince, listen to me.

You are bound by your kinsman's approaching connection, your venerable age, and your intimacy with the Pontiff, to a greater caution than we are.

Leave to us the management of the enterprise, and be assured of our discretion." A young boy, Stefanello, who afterwards succeeded to the representation of the direct line of the Colonna, and whom the reader will once again encounter ere our tale be closed, was playing by his grandsire's knees.
He looked sharply up at Savelli, and said, "My grandfather is too wise, and you are too timid.

Frangipani is too yielding, and Orsini is too like a vexed bull.

I wish I were a year or two older." "And what would you do, my pretty censurer ?" said the smooth Savelli, biting his smiling lip.
"Stab the Tribune with my own stiletto, and then hey for Palestrina!" "The egg will hatch a brave serpent," quoth the Savelli.