two men.
He selected his victims and fired. Two Companions of Jehu rolled upon
the pavement, which they reddened with their blood. The others, as if
nothing had happened, still advanced with outstretched hands upon
Sir John. Sir John seized his pistols by the muzzle, using them like
hammers. He was vigorous and the struggle was long. For ten minutes,
a confused group tussled in the centre of the choir; then this violent
commotion ceased, and the Companions of Jehu drew away to right and
left, and regained their stalls, leaving Sir John bound with their
girdles and lying upon the pedestal in the choir.

"Have you commended your soul to God?" asked the monk at the altar.

"Yes, assassin," answered Sir John; "you may strike."

The monk took a dagger from the altar, advanced with uplifted arm, and,
standing over Sir John, levelled the dagger at his breast: "Sir John
Tanlay," he said, "you are a brave man, and doubtless a man of honor.
Swear that you will never breathe a syllable of what you have seen;
swear that under no circumstances, whatever they may be, you will
recognize us, and we will spare your life."

"As soon as I leave here," replied Sir John, "I shall denounce you. The
moment I am free I will trail you down."

"Swear," repeated the monk a second time.

"No," said Sir John.

"Swear," said the monk for the third time.

"Never," replied Sir John.

"Then die, since you will it!"

And he drove his dagger up to the hilt in Sir John's breast; who,
whether by force of will, or because the blow killed him at once,
did not even sigh. Then the monk in a loud sonorous voice, like a man
conscious of having done his duty, exclaimed: "Justice is done!"

Then he returned to the altar, leaving the dagger in the wound and said:
"Brothers, you are invited to the ball of the Victims, which takes place
in Paris on the 21st of January next, at No. 35 Rue du Bac, in memory of
the death of King Louis XVI."

So saying, he re-entered the subterranean passage, followed by the
remaining ten monks, each bearing his torch in his hand. Two torches
remained to light the three bodies.

A moment later four serving brothers entered, and raised first the
bodies of the two monks, which they carried into the vault. Then they
returned, lifted that of Sir John, placed it on a stretcher, and carried
it out of the chapel by the entrance door, which they closed after them.
Two of the monks walked in front of the stretcher, carrying the tw