Their lord, advancing to the parapet, made a signal demanding silence, and spoke in a audible to every ear in the throng.
'Dogs! You came on this errand thinking that the villa was defenceless.
See your mistake! Each one of these behind me has more arrows in store than all your number, and never shot bolt from bow without piercing the mark.

Off! Away with your foul odours and your yelping throats! And if, when you have turned tail, any cur among you dares to bark back that I, Venantius of Nuceria, am no true Catholic, he shall pay for the lie with an arrow through chine and gizzard!' This threat he confirmed with a terrific oath of indisputable orthodoxy.
The effect was immediate.

Back fell the first rank of rioters, pressing against those in the rear; and without another cry, with only a low, terrified growling and snarling, the crowd scattered in flight.
'There again I see Petronilla,' declared Basil, watching the rout with fierce eyes.

'I'll swear that, before starting, she set this game afoot.

I must after her, Venantius.' 'Alone ?' 'Mother of God! if I had your men! But I will make soldiers of my own.
Some of the likeliest from our folk here shall follow me; enough to stay that she-wolf's journey till I can choke the truth out of her.' Venantius, his eyes fixed on the descending road by which the rabble had disappeared, caught sight of something which held him mute for a moment.