Chapter 10.II. Montreal at Rome. - His Reception of Angelo Villani.
The danger that threatened Rienzi by the arrival of Montreal was indeed
formidable. The Knight of St. John, having marched his army into Lombardy,
had placed it at the disposal of the Venetian State in its war with the
Archbishop of Milan. For this service he received an immense sum; while he
provided winter quarters for his troop, for whom he proposed ample work in
the ensuing spring. Leaving Palestrina secretly and in disguise, with but
a slender train, which met him at Tivoli, Montreal repaired to Rome. His
ostensible object was, partly to congratulate the Senator on his return,
partly to receive the monies lent to Rienzi by his brother.
His secret object we have partly seen; but not contented with the support
of the Barons, he trusted, by the corrupting means of his enormous wealth,
to form a third party in support of his own ulterior designs. Wealth,
indeed, in that age and in that land, was scarcely less the purchaser of
diadems than it had been in the later days of the Roman Empire. And in
many a city torn by hereditary feuds, the hatred of faction rose to that
extent, that a foreign tyrant, willing and able to expel one party, might
obtain at least the temporary submission of the other. His after-success
was greatly in proportion to his power to maintain his state by a force
which was independent of the citizens, and by a treasury which did not
require the odious recruit of taxes. But more avaricious than ambitious,
more cruel than firm, it was by griping exaction, or unnecessary bloodshed,
that such usurpers usually fell.
Montreal, who had scanned the frequent revolutions of the time with a calm
and investigating eye, trusted that he should be enabled to avoid both
these errors: and, as the reader has already seen, he had formed the
profound and sagacious project of consolidating his usurpation by an
utterly new race of nobles, who, serving him by the feudal tenure of the
North, and ever ready to protect him, because in so doing they protected
their own interests, should assist to erect, not the rotten and unsupported
fabric of a single tyranny, but the strong fortress of a new, hardy, and
compact Aristocratic State. Thus had the great dynasties of the North been
founded; in which a King, though seemingly curbed by the Barons, was in
reality supported by a common interest, whether against a subdued
population or a foreign invasion.
Such were the vast schemes - extending into yet wider fields of glory and
conquest, bounded only by the Alps - with which the Captain of the Grand
Company beheld the columns and arches of the Seven-hilled City.
No fear disturbed the long current of his thoughts. His brothers were the
leaders of Rienzi's hireling army - that army were his creatures. Over
Rienzi himself he assumed the right of a creditor. Thus against one party
he deemed himself secure. For the friends of the Pope, he had supported
himself with private, though cautious, letters from Albornoz, who desired
only to make use of him for the return of the Roman Barons; and with the
heads of the latter we have already witnessed his negotiations. Thus was
he fitted, as he thought, to examine, to tamper with all parties, and to
select from each the materials necessary for his own objects.
The open appearance of Montreal excited in Rome no inconsiderable
sensation. The friends of the Barons gave out that Rienzi was in league
with the Grand Company; and that he was to sell the imperial city to the
plunder and pillage of Barbarian robbers. The effrontery with which
Montreal (against whom, more than once, the Pontiff had thundered his
bulls) appeared in the Metropolitan City of the Church, was made yet more
insolent by the recollection of that stern justice which had led the
Tribune to declare open war against all the robbers of Italy: and this
audacity was linked with the obvious reflection, that the brothers of the
bold Provencal were the instruments of Rienzi's return. So quickly spread
suspicion through the city, that Montreal's presence alone would in a few
weeks have sufficed to ruin the Senator. Meanwhile, the natural boldness
of Montreal silenced every whisper of prudence; and, blinded by the dazzle
of his hopes, the Knight of St. John, as if to give double importance to
his coming, took up his residence in a sumptuous palace, and his retinue
rivalled, in the splendour of garb and pomp, the display of Rienzi himself
in his earlier and more brilliant power.
Amidst the growing excitement, Angelo Villani arrived at Rome. The
character of this young man had been formed by his peculiar circumstances.
He possessed qualities which often mark the Illegitimate as with a common
stamp. He was insolent - like most of those who hold a doubtful rank; and
while ashamed of his bastardy, was arrogant of the supposed nobility of his
unknown parentage. The universal ferment and agitation of Italy at that
day rendered ambition the most common of all the passions, and thus
ambition, in all its many shades and varieties, forces itself into our
delineations of character in this history. Though not for Angelo Villani
were the dreams of the more lofty and generous order of that sublime
infirmity, he was strongly incited by the desire and resolve to rise. He
had warm affections and grateful impulses; and his fidelity to his patron
had been carried to a virtue: but from his irregulated and desultory
education, and the reckless profligacy of those with whom, in ante-chambers
and guard-rooms, much of his youth had been passed, he had neither high
principles nor an enlightened honour. Like most Italians, cunning and
shrewd, he scrupled not at any deceit that served a purpose or a friend.
His strong attachment to Rienzi had been unconsciously increased by the
gratification of pride and vanity, flattered by the favour of so celebrated
a man. Both self-interest and attachment urged him to every effort to
promote the views and safety of one at once his benefactor and patron; and
on undertaking his present mission, his only thought was to fulfil it with
the most complete success. Far more brave and daring than was common with
the Italians, something of the hardihood of an Ultra-Montane race gave
nerve and vigour to his craft; and from what his art suggested, his courage
never shrunk.
When Rienzi had first detailed to him the objects of his present task, he
instantly called to mind his adventure with the tall soldier in the crowd
at Avignon. "If ever thou wantest a friend, seek him in Walter de
Montreal," were words that had often rung in his ear, and they now recurred
to him with prophetic distinctness. He had no doubt that it was Montreal
himself whom he had seen. Why the Great Captain should have taken this
interest in him, Angelo little cared to conjecture. Most probably it was
but a crafty pretence - one of the common means by which the Chief of the
Grand Company attracted to himself the youths of Italy, as well as the
warriors of the North. He only thought now how he could turn the Knight's
promise to account. What more easy than to present himself to Montreal -
remind him of the words - enter his service - and thus effectually watch
his conduct? The office of spy was not that which would have pleased every
mind, but it shocked not the fastidiousness of Angelo Villani; and the
fearful hatred with which his patron had often spoken of the avaricious and
barbarian robber - the scourge of his native land, - had infected the young
man, who had much of the arrogant and mock patriotism of the Romans, with a
similar sentiment. More vindictive even than grateful, he bore, too, a
secret grudge against Montreal's brothers, whose rough address had often
wounded his pride; and, above all, his early recollections of the fear and
execration in which Ursula seemed ever to hold the terrible Fra Moreale,
impressed him with a vague belief of some ancient wrong to himself or his
race, perpetrated by the Provencal, which he was not ill-pleased to have
the occasion to avenge. In truth, the words of Ursula, mystic and dark as
they were in their denunciation, had left upon Villani's boyish impressions
an unaccountable feeling of antipathy and hatred to the man it was now his
object to betray. For the rest, every device seemed to him decorous and
justifiable, so that it saved his master, served his country, and advanced
himself.
Montreal was alone in his chamber when it was announced to him that a young
Italian craved an audience. Professionally open to access, he forthwith
gave admission to the applicant.
The Knight of St. John instantly recognised the page he had encountered at
Avignon; and when Angelo Villani said, with easy boldness, "I have come to
remind Sir Walter de Montreal of a promise - "
The Knight interrupted him with cordial frankness - "Thou needest not - I
remember it. Dost thou now require my friendship?"
"I do noble Signor!" answered Angelo; "I know not where else to seek a
patron."
"Canst thou read and write? I fear me not."
"I have been taught those arts," replied Villani.
"It is well. Is thy birth gentle?"
"It is."
"Better still; - thy name?"
"Angelo Villani."
"I take thy blue eyes and low broad brow," said Montreal, with a slight
sigh, "in pledge of thy truth. Henceforth, Angelo Villani, thou art in the
list of my secretaries. Another time thou shalt tell me more of thyself.
Thy service dates from this day. For the rest, no man ever wanted wealth
who served Walter de Montreal; nor advancement, if he served him
faithfully. My closet, through yonder door, is thy waiting-room. Ask for,
and send hither, Lusignan of Lyons; he is my chief scribe, and will see to
thy comforts, and instruct thee in thy business."
Angelo withdrew - Montreal's eye followed him.
"A strange likeness!" said he, musingly and sadly; "my heart leaps to that
boy!"
