Might it not be better to secure their two prisoners, and then ask for further orders from the archbishop?
Wherewith, after the manner of mobs, they melted off the way they came, by twos and threes, till those of a contrary opinion began to find themselves left alone, and having a strong dislike to Jewish daggers, were fain to follow the stream.
With a panic or two, a cry of 'The Jews are on us!' and a general rush in every direction (in which one or two, seeking shelter from the awful nothing in neighbouring houses, were handed over to the watch as burglars, and sent to the quarries accordingly), they reached the Serapeium, and there found, of course, a counter-mob collected to inform them that they had been taken in--that Alexander's church had never been on fire at all--that the Jews had murdered a thousand Christians at least, though three dead bodies, including the poor priest who lay in the house within, were all of the thousand who had yet been seen--and that the whole Jews' quarter was marching upon them.

At which news it was considered advisable to retreat into the archbishop's house as quickly as possible, barricade the doors, and prepare for a siege--a work at which Philammon performed prodigies, tearing woodwork from the rooms, and stones from the parapets, before it struck some of the more sober-minded that it was as well to wait for some more decided demonstration of attack, before incurring so heavy a carpenter's bill of repairs.
At last the heavy tramp of footsteps was heard coming down the street, and every window was crowded in an instant with eager heads; while Peter rushed downstairs to heat the large coppers, having some experience in the defensive virtues of boiling water.

The bright moon glittered on a long line of helmets and cuirasses.

Thank Heaven! it was the soldiery.
'Are the Jews coming ?' 'Is the city quiet ?''Why did not you prevent this villainy ?' 'A thousand citizens murdered while you have been snoring!'-- and a volley of similar ejaculations, greeted the soldiers as they passed, and were answered by a cool--'To your perches, and sleep, you noisy chickens, or we'll set the coop on fire about your ears.' A yell of defiance answered this polite speech, and the soldiery, who knew perfectly well that the unarmed ecclesiastics within were not to be trifled with, and had no ambition to die by coping-stones and hot water, went quietly on their way.
All danger was now past; and the cackling rose jubilant, louder than ever, and might have continued till daylight, had not a window in the courtyard been suddenly thrown open, and the awful voice of Cyril commanded silence.
'Every man sleep where he can.

I shall want you at daybreak.