Suddenly the followers of the Justiciary appeared among them, and every bosom thrilled with a shudder of disgust.  The strangers came with their usual insolent demeanor, as they said, to maintain tranquillity; and for this purpose they mingled with the groups, joined in the dances, and familiarly accosted the women; pressing the hand of one, taking unwarranted liberties with others; addressing indecent words and gestures to those more distant, until some temperately admonished them to depart, in God’s name, without insulting the women; and others murmured angrily; but the hot-blooded youths raised their voices so fiercely that the soldiers said to one another, “These insolent paterini must be armed, that they dare thus to answer,” and replied to them with the most offensive insults, insisting, with great insolence, on searching them for arms, and even here and there striking them with sticks or thongs.  Every heart already throbbed fiercely on either side, when a young woman, of singular beauty and of modest and dignified deportment, appeared with her husband and relations, bending her steps toward the church.  Drouet, a Frenchman, impelled either by insolence or license, approached her as if to examine her for concealed weapons; seized her and searched her bosom.  She fell fainting into her husband’s arms, who, in a voice almost choked with rage, exclaimed, “Death, death to the French!” At the same moment a youth burst from the crowd which had gathered round them, sprang upon Drouet, disarmed and slew him; and probably, at the same moment, paid the penalty by the loss of his own life, leaving his name unknown and the mystery forever unsolved—­whether it were love for the injured woman, the impulse of a generous heart, or the more exalted flame of patriotism that prompted him thus to give the signal of deliverance.

Noble example has a power far beyond that of argument or eloquence to rouse the people; and the erstwhile abject slaves awoke at length from their long bondage.  “Death, death to the French!” they cried; and the cry—­say the historians of the time—­reechoed, like the voice of God, through the whole country, and found an answer in every heart.

Above the corpse of Drouet were heaped those of the slain on either side.  The crowd expanded itself, closed in, and swayed hither and thither in wild confusion.  The Sicilians, with sticks, stones, and knives, rushed with desperate ferocity upon their fully armed opponents.  They sought for them and hunted them down.  Fearful tragedies were enacted amid the preparations for festivity, and the overthrown tables were drenched with blood.  The people displayed their strength and conquered.  The struggle was brief, and great the slaughter of the Sicilians; but of the French there were two hundred—­and two hundred fell!