half, I and my men the other half."

"It is much," said Rienzi, gravely, and as if in calculation,--"but Rome
cannot purchase her liberties too dearly. So be it then decided."

"Amen!--and now, then, what is your force? for these eighty or a hundred
signors of the Aventine,--worthy men, doubtless,--scarce suffice for a
revolt!"

Gazing cautiously round the room, the Roman placed his hand on
Montreal's arm--

"Between you and me, it requires time to cement it. We shall be unable
to stir these five weeks. I have too rashly anticipated the period. The
corn is indeed cut, but I must now, by private adjuration and address,
bind up the scattered sheaves."

"Five weeks," repeated Montreal; "that is far longer than I
anticipated."

"What I desire," continued Rienzi, fixing his searching eyes upon
Montreal, "is, that, in the meanwhile, we should preserve a profound
calm,--we should remove every suspicion. I shall bury myself in my
studies, and convoke no more meetings."

"Well--"

"And for yourself, noble Knight, might I venture to dictate, I would
pray you to mix with the nobles--to profess for me and for the people
the profoundest contempt--and to contribute to rock them yet more in the