'Ah well, it but delays my pleasure a few hours.

I know where to find ye and shall pay my respects to-night.' "'And I,' added his companion with a fierce laugh; 'to ye and many another like ye.

It's work quite to my taste Holy Mother Church has laid out for us to-night, Andrea.' "'Yes, yes, Giuseppe, we'll not quarrel with the work or the wages; all the plunder we can lay hands on; to say naught of the pretty maids such as yon, or the escape from the fires of purgatory.' "They were wending their way to the convent of the Recollets as they talked.

Arrived at its gates they were immediately admitted, to find it filled with cut-throats such as themselves, and soon learned that the church also and the house of the cure were in like condition.
"'Good!' they cried, 'how many names in all ?' "'Seven hundred,' said one.
"'Eight hundred,' asserted another.
"'Well, well, be it which it may, we're strong enough for the work, all the able-bodied barbetti being on the frontier,' cried Andrea, exultingly, 'we'll make short shrift with the old men, women and children.' "'Yes; long live the holy Roman Church! Hurrah for the holy faith! Down with the barbetti!' cried a chorus of voices.

'We'll have a second St.
Bartholomew in these valleys and rid them of the hated presence of the cursed heretics.' "'That we will,' responded Giuseppe.