“I have made enemies by the stand I have taken,” he said. “It has proved fatal for more than one man who espoused the cause of Dreyfus.”
“It has proved fatal?” questioned the young American. “What do you mean?”
“What I have said. More than one has given up his life because he dared proclaim the innocence of Dreyfus and work to establish it.”
“Of course not. Why should you? The Black Brothers do their work in silence.”
“A band of men sworn to keep Dreyfus on Devil’s Island at any cost.”
“Do you mean to tell me there is such an organization of men in France?” gasped Frank, in horror.
“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.”
“Have died suddenly and strangely, one and all, and yet no man knows the cause of their death.”
“Each one has been warned to leave France within ten days. One alone has heeded the warning. The others are dead.”
“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.”
Frank started a bit, thinking how strangely the duke had been seized by pains in his heart. The Frenchman seemed to read the thoughts of his companion, and his face appeared to turn yet a shade paler than it had been.
“I have fancied that I might be able to detect the manner in which the Black Brothers do their work,” he said; “but now I fear I shall fail. The pains at my heart are terrible symptoms, and I fear I am to be the next victim.”
“The sign of the Black Brothers! the sign of death!”
“This is the tenth day since I received it!” whispered the duke.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frank was startled, to say the least. He looked at the man searchingly, wondering now that the duke could be as calm as he seemed. It was plain he had more nerve than Merry had thought.