“‘Whatever may be the severity of the wound which one receives he can neither utter a complaint nor a groan, as the sound of his voice would establish his identity.
“‘One who is down cannot be struck. When one is wounded, or wishes to discontinue his participation in the combat, he extends himself at length and is secure from molestation.
“‘But so long as there remain two of them erect, who meet each other in the darkness, they strike pitilessly at each other’s breasts, and this, despite the fact that they may be friends, relatives, or even brothers.’
“And now, the last table and stool being removed, each individual placed himself, knife in hand, with his face to the wall.
“There remained only the extinguishing of the light before the carnage should commence.
“I followed with a horrible curiosity each phase of the savage tragedy which was about to conclude in the darkness, not more than a dozen feet from where I sat. During those latter preliminaries, I felt such a lively emotion of horror that I could scarcely refrain from uttering a cry in order to reveal our presence, and put an end to the infamous proceedings.
“Had only my personal safety been involved, I should not have hesitated, but my companions were present, and they had not ceased to repeat that the smallest suspicion of our presence would compromise all of us. I was obliged, therefore, to await the termination in silence.
“Soon the tall sacrophant extinguished one of the four lamps. Then the second was deliberately put out, and then the third. As I saw him approach the fourth and last one, my heart ceased to beat, and I involuntarily closed my eyes.
“When I opened them it was night, silence, the profound peace of the tomb, and I seemed to be under the influence of a dream.
“At a movement which I made on my seat, and which was more noisy than prudence would permit, the count seized me vigorously by the arms, and his significant pressure seemed to say, silence! At the same moment we heard a certain agitation at our feet; the combatants putting themselves into position for the attack.