Part 2 (1/2)

Chapter 3

The Pupil of John de Witt

Whilst the clarew ainst the two brothers, determined John de Witt to hasten the departure of his brother Cornelius, a deputation of burghers had gone to the Town-hall to demand the withdrawal of Tilly's horse

It was not far froer, who since the beginning of this scene had watched all its incidents with intense interest, was seen to wend his ith, or rather in the wake of, the others towards the Town-hall, to hear as soon as possible the current news of the hour

This stranger was a very youngabout hiood reasons for nothimself known, as he hid his face in a handkerchief of fine Frisian linen, hich he incessantly wiped his brow or his burning lips

With an eye keen as that of a bird of prey, -- with a long aquiline nose, a finely cut aping like the edges of a wound, -- this man would have presented to Lavater, if Lavater had lived at that tinomical observations which at the first blush would not have been very favourable to the person in question

”What difference is there between the figure of the conqueror and that of the pirate?” said the ancients The difference only between the eagle and the vulture, -- serenity or restlessness

And indeed the sallow physiogno ways of the stranger, were the very type of a suspecting master, or an unquiet thief; and a police officer would certainly have decided in favour of the latter supposition, on account of the great care which the mysterious person evidently took to hide himself

He was plainly dressed, and apparently unarmed; his arm was lean but wiry, and his hands dry, but of an aristocratic whiteness and delicacy, and he leaned on the shoulder of an officer, ith his hand on his sword, had watched the scenes in the Buytenhof with eager curiosity, very natural in a military man, until his co at the square of the Hoogstraet, the man with the sallow face pushed the other behind an open shutter, froan to survey the balcony of the Town-hall

At the savage yells of the mob, theof the Town-hall opened, and a man came forth to address the people

”Who is that on the balcony?” asked the youngat the orator

”It is the Deputy Bowelt,” replied the officer

”What sort of aof hineur”

Hearing this character given of Bowelt, the young e disappointment and evident dissatisfaction that the officer could not but remark it, and therefore added, -- ”At least people say so, Monseigneur I cannot say anything about it myself, as I have no personal acquaintance with Mynheer Bowelt”

”An honest neur; ”do you mean to say that he is an honest man (brave honeur must excuse me; I would not presume to draw such a fine distinction in the case of a hness once ht”

”If this Bowelt is an honest ive to the demand of these furibund petitioners a very queer reception”

The nervous quiver of his hand, which ers of a player on the keys of a harpsichord, betrayed his burning impatience, so ill concealed at certain times, and particularly at that moment, under the icy and sombre expression of his face

The chief of the deputation of the burghers was then heard addressing an interpellation to Mynheer Bowelt, whom he requested to let theues, were

”Gentlemen,” Bowelt repeated for the second time, ”I assure you that in this moment I am here alone with Mynheer d'Asperen, and I cannot take any resolution on my own responsibility”

”The order! ant the order!” cried several thousand voices

Mynheer Boished to speak, but his words were not heard, and he was only seen estures, which plainly showed that he felt his position to be desperate When, at last, he saw that he could not make himself heard, he turned round towards the open , and called Mynheer d'Asperen

The latter gentleman now made his appearance on the balcony, where he was saluted with shouts even etic than those hich, ten ue had been received

This did not prevent hi the uard of the States -- which, however, offered no resistance to the sovereign people -- to listening to the speech of Mynheer d'Asperen

”Now, then,” the younginto the principal gate of the Town-hall, ”it see, and let us hear the debate”

”Oh, Monseigneur! Monseigneur! take care!”

”Of what?”

”As with you, and it would be sufficient, that one of theht be charged with having been the instigator of all this work, indeed, you are right,” said the youngbetrayed so erness ”From this place we shall see them return with or without the order for the withdrawal of the dragoons, then we reater, Mynheer Bowelt's honesty or his courage”

”But,” replied the officer, looking with astonishneur, ”but your Highness surely does not suppose for one instant that the deputies will order Tilly's horse to quit their post?”

”Why not?” the youngso would si the death warrant of Cornelius and John de Witt”

”We shall see,” his Highness replied, with theon within the hearts of ure of his corew pale: he was an honest man as well as a brave one

Frohness and his attendant heard the tumult and the heavy tramp of the crowd on the staircase of the Town-hall The noise thereupon sounded through the s of the hall, on the balcony of which Mynheers Bowelt and D'Asperen had presented the, very likely fro forced over the balustrade by the pressure of the crowd

After this, fluctuating shadows in tu to and fro across the s: the council hall was filling

Suddenly the noise subsided, and as suddenly again it rose with redoubled intensity, and at last reached such a pitch that the old building shook to the very roof

At length, the living streaateway, fro like waters froroup, , his face hideously distorted with satanic glee: this eon Tyckelaer

”We have it! we have it!” he cried, brandishi+ng a paper in the air

”They have got the order!” hness quietly reard to Mynheer Bowelt's honesty and courage: he has neither the one nor the other”

Then, looking with a steady glance after the crohich was rushi+ng along before hio to the Buytenhof, Captain; I expect we shall see a very strange sight there”

The officer bowed, and, withoutany reply, followed in the steps of his master

There was an ihbourhood of the prison But the dragoons of Tilly still kept it in check with the sa before the Count heard the increasing din of the approaching multitude, the first ranks of which rushed on with the rapidity of a cataract

At the sa above the surface of clenched fists and glittering ar in his stirrups, and touching his lieutenant with the knob of his sword; ”I really believe those rascals have got the order”