a ransom." Then turning to the monk at the
altar he asked, "How much do you demand, captain?"

A threatening murmur greeted these insolent words. The monk at the altar
stretched out his hand.

"You are mistaken, Sir John. We are not a band of thieves," said he in a
tone as calm and composed as Sir John's, "and the proof is, that if you
have money or jewels upon you, you need only give me your instructions,
and they will be remitted either to your family or the person whom you
designate."

"And what guarantee shall I have that my last wishes will be carried
out?"

"My word."

"The word of the leader of assassins! I don't trust it."

"This time, as before, you are mistaken, Sir John. I am no more the
leader of assassins than I am a captain of thieves."

"Who are you, then?"

"The elect of celestial vengeance. I am the envoy of Jehu, King of
Israel, who was anointed by the prophet Elisha to destroy the house of
Ahab."

"If you are what you say, why do you veil your faces? Why do you wear
armor under your robes? The elect strike openly; they risk death in
giving death. Throw back your hoods, show me your naked breasts, and I
will admit that you are what you pretend to be."

"Brothers, you have heard him," said the monk at the altar.

Then, stripping off his gown, he opened his coat, waistcoat and even
his shirt. Each monk did the same, and stood with face exposed and
bared breast. They were all handsome young men, of whom the eldest was
apparently not more than thirty-five. Their dress was elegant, but,
strange fact, none was armed. They were judges and nothing more.

"Be satisfied, Sir John Tanlay," said the monk at the altar. "You will
die, but in dying, you can, as you wished just now, recognize and kill
your judges. Sir John, you have five minutes to prepare your soul for
death!"

Sir John, instead of profiting by this permission to think of his
eternal salvation, coolly cocked his pistols to see that the triggers
were all right, and passed a ramrod down the barrels to make sure that
the balls were there. Then, without waiting for the five minutes to
expire, he said: "Gentlemen, I am ready. Are you?"

The young men looked at each other; then, on a sign from their chief,
they walked straight to Sir John, and surrounded him on all sides. The
monk at the altar stood immovable, commanding with his eye the scene
that was about to take place.

Sir John had only two pistols, consequently he could only kill