"Forgive me if I do not think highly, in general, of Italian honour, or Italian valour; your valour I acknowledge, for I have witnessed it, and valour and honour go together,--let that suffice!" As Adrian was about to answer, his eye fell suddenly on the burly form of Cecco del Vecchio, who was leaning his bare and brawny arms over his anvil, and gazing, with a smile, upon the group.

There was something in that smile which turned the current of Adrian's thoughts, and which he could not contemplate without an unaccountable misgiving.
"A strong villain, that," said Montreal, also eyeing the smith.

"I should like to enlist him.

Fellow!" cried he, aloud, "you have an arm that were as fit to wield the sword as to fashion it.

Desert your anvil, and follow the fortunes of Fra Moreale!" The smith nodded his head.