“It does not seem possible!”
“There are said to be seven of the Black Brothers,” said the duke, speaking in guarded tones. “They are seven of the most desperate creatures in all France, and they are the hired assassins of the enemies of Dreyfus. They are paid to destroy such friends of the condemned man as may seem dangerous, and they are guaranteed protection by the men who employ them.”
“Horrible!” exclaimed Merry. “It’s like a grisly conception of some romancist. But I think the law would be able to reach the murderers.”
“Not yet, for as yet there is no proof that they have committed murder.”
“The victims——”
“Have died suddenly and strangely, one and all, and yet no man knows the cause of their death.”
“How is that?”
“Each one has been warned to leave France within ten days. One alone has heeded the warning. The others are dead.”
“They were murdered?”
“Of that there can be no doubt, yet on none of them was found a mark to tell how they died. It seemed that heart trouble cut short their lives.”