THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE 1821 TO 1833 BY W.ALISON PHILLIPS 1897

ASSASSINATION OF CAPODISTEIAS 367
al' ('
Ho there, children!') At the sound of
his voice the two hurried to the window, and, leaning
out, asked him how he fared.
The old man only
pointed to his guards, said, in a voice choked with passion,
' You see how I fare ! and passed on. But the
'
Mavromichales had understood. The code of the
Maina allowed them, under the circumstances, only
one course of action. Their chief, and the head of
their family, had received a wrong, and this must be
wiped out in blood.
The resolution to assassinate the President was,
indeed, not a new one. The Mavromichales had already
received wrongs enough at his hands to abundantly
justify this act in their eyes ;
and they had long
since, by the connivance of their guards, provided
themselves with weapons for the purpose. They now
determined no longer to delay their action.
On Sunday morning, the 9th of October, Capodistrias
rose, as usual, at five o'clock, and, after devoting
an hour to work, proceeded, accompanied by his onearmed
servant, Kokonis, and a soldier named Leondas,
to the Church of St. Spiridion to hear mass. On the
way he was passed by Constantine and George Mavromichales,
who saluted him hurriedly, and hastened on
to the church. This was already full of worshippers,
and the two Mainotes took up a position, one on each