front of the party, a young cavalier, distinguished from his immediate
comrades, partly by his graceful presence and partly by his splendid
dress.

The squire approached respectfully, and dismounting, delivered himself
of his charge.

The young cavalier smiled, as he answered, "Bear back to Sir Walter de
Montreal the greeting of Adrian Colonna, Baron di Castello, and say,
that the solemn object of my present journey will scarce permit me to
encounter the formidable lance of so celebrated a knight; and I regret
this the more, inasmuch as I may not yield to any dame the palm of my
liege lady's beauty. I must live in hope of a happier occasion. For
the rest, I will cheerfully abide for some few hours the guest of so
courteous a host."

The squire bowed low. "My master," said he, hesitatingly, "will grieve
much to miss so noble an opponent. But my message refers to all this
knightly and gallant train; and if the Lord Adrian di Castello deems
himself forbidden the joust by the object of his present journey, surely
one of his comrades will be his proxy with my master."

Out and quickly spoke a young noble by the side of Adrian, Riccardo
Annibaldi, who afterwards did good service both to the Tribune and to
Rome, and whose valour brought him, in later life, to an untimely end.

"By the Lord Adrian's permission," cried he, "I will break a lance
with--"

"Hush! Annibaldi," interrupted Adrian. "And you, Sir Squire, know, that