Raimond drew back and turned pale. Not so the veteran noble. Tears
of wounded pride started from his eyes; he approached, leaning on his
staff, to Rienzi, touched him on his shoulder, and said,--

"Tribune, a judge has lived to envy his victim!"

Rienzi turned with an equal pride to the Baron.

"We forgive idle words in the aged. My Lord, have you done with us?--we
would be alone."

"Give me thy arm, Raimond," said Stephen. "Tribune--farewell. Forget
that the Colonna sued thee,--an easy task, methinks; for, wise as you
are, you forget what every one else can remember."

"Ay, my Lord, what?"

"Birth, Tribune, birth--that's all!"

"The Signor Colonna has taken up my old calling, and turned a wit,"
returned Rienzi, with an indifferent and easy tone.

Then following Raimond and Stephen with his eyes, till the door closed
upon them, he muttered, "Insolent! were it not for Adrian, thy grey
beard should not bear thee harmless. Birth! what Colonna would not boast
himself, if he could, the grandson of an emperor?--Old man, there is
danger in thee which must be watched." With that he turned musingly
towards the casement, and again that griesly spectacle of death met his
eye. The people below, assembled in large concourse, rejoiced at the
execution of one whose whole life had been infamy and rapine--but who