What seems to be intended now is the destruction of our Chiefs, individually, by secret means--means which it is supposed we shall not be able to trace to the instigators, even if we should detect their instruments." "But," I remarked, "those who have warned you of the danger must know from whom it proceeds, and those who are employed in such an attack must run not only the ordinary risk of assassins, but the further risk entailed by the peculiar powers of those they assail." "Those powers," he answered, "they do not understand or recognise.

The instruments, I presume, will be encouraged by an assurance that the Courts are in their favour, and by a pledge in the last resort that they shall be protected.

The exceptional customs of our Order, especially their refusal to send their children into the public Nurseries, mark out and identify them; and though our places of meeting are concealed and have never been invaded, the fact that we do meet and the persons of those who attend can hardly be concealed." "But," I asked, "if a charge of assassination is once made and proved, how can the Courts refuse to do justice?
Can the instigators protect the culprit without committing themselves ?" "They would appeal, I do not doubt, to a law, passed many ages ago with a special regard to ourselves, but which has not been applied for a score of centuries, putting the members of a secret religious society beyond the pale of legal protection.

That we shall ultimately find them out and avenge ourselves, you need not doubt.

But in the meantime every known dissentient from the customs of the majority is in danger, and persons of note or prominence especially so.