Adrian di Castello permits no proxy in arms. Avise the Knight of St.
John that we accept his hospitality, and if, after some converse on
graver matters, he should still desire so light an entertainment, I will
forget that I am the ambassador to Naples, and remember only that I am a
Knight of the Empire. You have your answer."

The squire with much ceremony made his obeisance, remounted his steed,
and returned in a half-gallop to his master.

"Forgive me, dear Annibaldi," said Adrian, "that I balked your valour;
and believe me that I never more longed to break a lance against any man
than I do against this boasting Frenchman. But bethink you, that though
to us, brought up in the dainty laws of chivalry, Walter de Montreal
is the famous Knight of Provence, to the Tribune of Rome, whose grave
mission we now fulfil, he is but the mercenary captain of a Free
Company. Grievously in his eyes should we sully our dignity by so wanton
and irrelevant a holiday conflict with a declared and professional
brigand."

"For all that," said Annibaldi, "the brigand ought not to boast that a
Roman knight shunned a Provencal lance."

"Cease, I pray thee!" said Adrian, impatiently. In fact, the young
Colonna, already chafed bitterly against his discreet and dignified
rejection of Montreal's proffer, and recollecting with much pique
the disparaging manner in which the Provencal had spoken of the Roman
chivalry, as well as a certain tone of superiority, which in all warlike
matters Montreal had assumed over him,--he now felt his cheek burn, and
his lip quiver. Highly skilled in the martial accomplishments of his
time, he had a natural and excusable desire to prove that he was at