But they did not get very far.  Upon the silence of the street a voice rang out.  Ordinarily, one would have known it was the voice of a woman; but in this place, under these exciting circumstances, it seemed the voice of a supernatural being.  It almost sang the words; it was like a silver bugle calling across a battle-field—­glorious, thrilling, hypnotic.  “Make way-y-y-y for the Grand Imperial Kle-e-e-agle of the Ku-u Klux Klan!” Every one was startled; but I think I was startled more that the rest, for I knew the voice!  Mary Magna had taken another speaking part!

I was on the steps of the building, so I could see over the heads of the crowd.  There were four of the big busses from Eternal City, two having approached from each direction.  Some fifty figures had descended from them, and others were still descending, each one clad in a voluminous white robe, with a white hood over the head, and two black holes for eyes, and another for the nose.  These figures had spread out in a half moon, entirely surrounding the little mob of ex-service men, and penning them against the wall of the building.  In the center of the half moon, standing a few feet in advance, was the figure of the “Grand Imperial Kleagle,” with a red star upon the forehead of the white hood, and shrouded white arms stretched out, and in one hand a magic wand with a red light on the end.  This wand was waving over the Brigade members, and had apparently its full supernatural effect, for one and all they stood rooted to the spot, staring with wide-open eyes.

LVII

The grand-opera voice raised again its silver chant:  “Give way, all mobs!  Yield!  Retire!  Abdicate!—­Bow down-n-n-n-n!  Make way for the Mob of Mobs, the irresistible, imperial, superior super-mob!  Hearken to the Lord High Chief Commanding Dragon of the Esoteric Cohorts, the Exalted Immortal Grand Imperial Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan!”

Then the Grand Imperial Kleagle turned and addressed the white-robed throng in a voice of sharp command:  “Klansmen!  Remember your oath!  The hour of Judgment is here!  The guilty wretch cowers!  The grand insuperable sentence has been spoken!  Coelum animum imperiabilis senescat!  Similia similibus per quantum imperator.  Inexorabilis ingenium parasimilibua esperantur!  Saeva itnparatus ignotum indignatio!  Salvo!  Suppositio!  Indurato!  Klansmen, kneel!”

As one man, the host fell upon its knees.

“Klansmen, swear!  Si fractus illibatur orbis, impavidum ferient ruinae!  You have heard the sentence.  What is the penalty?  Is it death?”

And a voice in the crowd cried “Death!” And the others took it up; there was a roar:  “Death!  Death!”

Said the Grand Imperial Kleagle:  “Arma virumque cano, tou poluphlesboiou thalasses!” Then, facing the staring ex-servicemen:  “Tetlathi mater erne kai anaskeo ko-omeneper!”

Finally the Grand Imperial Kleagle pointed her shrouded white arm at Carpenter, who stood, as pale as death, but unflinchingly.  “Death to all traitors!” she cried.  “Death to all agitators!  Death to all enemies of the Ku Klux Klan!  Condemnatus!  Incomparabilis!  Ingenientis exequatur!  Let the Loyal High Inexorable Guardians and the Grand Holy Seneschals of the Klan advance!”