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〃August 20th； 1672。〃
John； with tears in his eyes； wiped off a drop of the noble
blood which had soiled the leaf； and； after having handed
the despatch to Craeke with a last direction； returned to
Cornelius； who seemed overcome by intense pain； and near
fainting。
〃Now；〃 said he； 〃when honest Craeke sounds his coxswain's
whistle； it will be a signal of his being clear of the
crowd； and of his having reached the other side of the pond。
And then it will be our turn to depart。〃
Five minutes had not elapsed； before a long and shrill
whistle was heard through the din and noise of the square of
the Buytenhof。
John gratefully raised his eyes to heaven。
〃And now；〃 said he； 〃let us off； Cornelius。〃
Chapter 3
The Pupil of John de Witt
Whilst the clamour of the crowd in the square of Buytenhof；
which grew more and more menacing against 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 from the Buytenhof to Hoogstraet （High
Street）； and a stranger； who since the beginning of this
scene had watched all its incidents with intense interest；
was seen to wend his way with； 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 young man； of scarcely twenty…two
or three； with nothing about him that bespoke any great
energy。 He evidently had his good reasons for not making
himself known； as he hid his face in a handkerchief of fine
Frisian linen； with which 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 mouth； which he generally kept
open； or rather which was gaping like the edges of a wound；
this man would have presented to Lavater； if Lavater had
lived at that time； a subject for physiognomical
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 physiognomy； the thin and sickly body；
and the prowling 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； who； with his hand on his sword； had watched the
scenes in the Buytenhof with eager curiosity； very natural
in a military man； until his companion drew him away with
him。
On arriving at the square of the Hoogstraet； the man with
the sallow face pushed the other behind an open shutter；
from which corner he himself began to survey the balcony of
the Town…hall。
At the savage yells of the mob； the window of the Town…hall
opened； and a man came forth to address the people。
〃Who is that on the balcony？〃 asked the young man； glancing
at the orator。
〃It is the Deputy Bowelt；〃 replied the officer。
〃What sort of a man is he？ Do you know anything of him？〃
〃An honest man； at least I believe so； Monseigneur。〃
Hearing this character given of Bowelt； the young man showed
signs of such a strange 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 man；〃 repeated he who was addressed as
Monseigneur； 〃do you mean to say that he is an honest man
（brave homme）； or a brave one （homme brave）？〃
〃Ah； Monseigneur must excuse me； I would not presume to draw
such a fine distinction in the case of a man whom； I assure
your Highness once more； I know only by sight。〃
〃If this Bowelt is an honest man；〃 his Highness continued；
〃he will give to the demand of these furibund petitioners a
very queer reception。〃
The nervous quiver of his hand； which moved on the shoulder
of his companion as the fingers 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 them know where the other deputies； his
colleagues； 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！ we want the order！〃 cried several thousand
voices。
Mynheer Bowelt wished to speak； but his words were not
heard； and he was only seen moving his arms in all sorts of
gestures； 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 window； and
called Mynheer d'Asperen。
The latter gentleman now made his appearance on the balcony；
where he was saluted with shouts even more energetic than
those with which； ten minutes before； his colleague had been
received。
This did not prevent him from undertaking the difficult task
of haranguing the mob； but the mob preferred forcing the
guard of the States which； however； offered no resistance
to the sovereign people to listening to the speech of
Mynheer d'Asperen。
〃Now； then；〃 the young man coolly remarked； whilst the crowd
was rushing into the principal gate of the Town…hall； 〃it
seems the question will be discussed indoors； Captain。 Come
along； and let us hear the debate。〃
〃Oh； Monseigneur！ Monseigneur！ take care！〃
〃Of what？〃
〃Among these deputies there are many who have had dealings
with you； and it would be sufficient； that one of them
should recognize your Highness。〃
〃Yes； that I might be charged with having been the
instigator of all this work； indeed； you are right；〃 said
the young man； blushing for a moment from regret of having
betrayed so much eagerness。 〃From this place we shall see
them return with or without the order for the withdrawal of
the dragoons； then we may judge which is greater； Mynheer
Bowelt's honesty or his courage。〃
〃But；〃 replied the officer； looking with astonishment at the
personage whom he addressed as Monseigneur； 〃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 young man quietly retorted。
〃Because doing so would simply be signing the death warrant
of Cornelius and John de Witt。〃
〃We shall see；〃 his Highness replied； with the most perfect
coolness； 〃God alone knows what is going on within the
hearts of men。〃
The officer looked askance at the impassible figure of his
companion； and grew pale： he was an honest man as well as a
brave one。
From the spot where they stood； his Highness 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 windows of the hall； on the balcony of
which Mynheers Bowelt and D'Asperen had presented
themselves。 These two gentlemen had retired into the
building； very likely from fear of being forced over the
balustrade by the pressure of the crowd。
After this； fluctuating shadows in tumultuous confusion were
seen flitting to and fro across the windows： 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 stream poured back through the
galleries and stairs to the arched gateway； from which it
was seen issuing like waters from a spout。
At the head of the first group； man was flying rather than
running； his face hideously distorted with satanic glee：
this man was the surgeon Tyckelaer。
〃We have it！ we have it！〃 he cried； brandishing a paper in
the air。
〃They have got the order！〃 muttered the officer in
amazement。
〃Well； then；〃 his Highness quietly remarked； 〃now I know
what to believe with regard to Mynheer Bowelt's honest