Greek Emperor refuse his aid—he will tell him that, which will make him tremble for his throne and force the gold from the reluctant coffers. The crafty Paleologus hesitates, but he stands aghast, when Procida acquaints him that Venice hath lent her ships to D'Anjou, and another Dandolo is already embarked to repeat the Fifth Crusade ! The Greek exclaims in despair, 11 know not what to do.' ' Give me money,' replies the mariner, ' and I will find you a de-fender, who has no money, but who has arms.' Michael Paleologus opens his treasures and satisfies even a Jew's thirst for gold. Most of all, Paleologus desires a complete reconciliation with the pope ; most of all Procida desires an interview with the sovereign pontiff. " More swiftly returns the galley ; and the ambassador of the Greek stands upon the prow, wrapped in courtly vestments ; but not the less anxiously does he watch the winds and waves that return him to Eome. The feeble Nicholas trembles at thought of the vast undertaking, but Procida has fathomed the old man's ambition for his house. He reminds him of the reply of D'AnjoUj when the pope proposed a marriage between his neice and Charles' son, 'Does Nicholas fancy because he wears red stockings that the blood of Orsini can mingle with the blood of France ?' The stinging remembrance of the taunt deter-mines the pontiff, and the treaty with Paleologus is deliv-ered into the hands of the ambassador. Behold now, King of Arragon, ' The impossibilities are conquered? and thou art bound by the very vow of thine unbelief to '•substan-tiate the claim of the daughter of Manfred to the throne of Sicily: " Before the letter of Procida reached Don Pedro, Pope Nicholas died, and Charles had sufficient interest with the college of cardinals to procure the election of one of his own creatures to the Holy See. These events darkened the horizon above the Sicilians : but the dauntless spirit of Procida rose superior to this alarming turn of affairs. Though aware that Charles had been made acquainted with his designs, he remained upon 452 HEROINES OF THE CRUSADES.