254 HISTORICAL TALES.

obliged by law to keep always with him the conse-
crated spear of office.

And now the supposed and eagerly expected
women were brought in,—three of them attired as
ladies of distinction, the four others dressed as attend-
ants. Their long veils and ample robes completely
disguised them, and they sat down beside the pole-
marchs without a suspicion being entertained. Not
till their drunken companions lifted their veils did
the truth appear. But the lifting of the veils was
the signal for quick and deep dagger-thrusts, and
Archias and Philippus, with scarcely a movement of
resistance, fell dead from their seats. No harm was
meant to.the others, but the drunken archon rushed
on the conspirators with his spear, and in conse-
quence perished with his friends.

There were two more of the tyrants to deal with.
Phyllidas led three of the conspirators to the house
of Leontiades, into which he was admitted as the
bearer of an order from the polemarchs. Leontiades
was reclining after supper, with his wife spinning
wool by his side, when his foes entered his chamber,
dagger in hand. A bold and strong man, he in-
stantly sprang up, seized his sword, and with a
thrust mortally wounded the first of the three.
Then a desperate struggle took place in the door-
way between him and Pelopidas, the place being
too narrow for the third to approach. In the end
Pelopidas dealt him a mortal blow. Then, threaten-
ing the wife with death if she gave the alarm, and
closing the door with stern commands that it should
not be opened again, the two patriots left the house