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what to believe with regard to Mynheer Bowelt's honesty and 

courage: he has neither the one nor the other。〃 



Then; looking with a steady glance after the crowd which was 

rushing along before him; he continued;  



〃Let us now go to the Buytenhof; Captain; I expect we shall 

see a very strange sight there。〃 



The officer bowed; and; without making any reply; followed 

in the steps of his master。 



There was an immense crowd in the square and about the 

neighbourhood of the prison。 But the dragoons of Tilly still 

kept it in check with the same success and with the same 

firmness。 



It was not long 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 same time he observed the paper; which was waving 

above the surface of clenched fists and glittering arms。 



〃Halloa!〃 he said; rising in his stirrups; and touching his 

lieutenant with the knob of his sword; 〃I really believe 

those rascals have got the order。〃 



〃Dastardly ruffians they are;〃 cried the lieutenant。 



It was indeed the order; which the burgher guard received 

with a roar of triumph。 They immediately sallied forth; with 

lowered arms and fierce shouts; to meet Count Tilly's 

dragoons。 



But the Count was not the man to allow them to approach 

within an inconvenient distance。 



〃Stop!〃 he cried; 〃stop; and keep off from my horse; or I 

shall give the word of command to advance。〃 



〃Here is the order!〃 a hundred insolent voices answered at 

once。 



He took it in amazement; cast a rapid glance on it; and said 

quite aloud;  



〃Those who have signed this order are the real murderers of 

Cornelius de Witt。 I would rather have my two hands cut off 

than have written one single letter of this infamous order。〃 



And; pushing back with the hilt of his sword the man who 

wanted to take it from him; he added;  



〃Wait a minute; papers like this are of importance; and are 

to be kept。〃 



Saying this; he folded up the document; and carefully put it 

in the pocket of his coat。 



Then; turning round towards his troop; he gave the word of 

command;  



〃Tilly's dragoons; wheel to the right!〃 



After this; he added; in an undertone; yet loud enough for 

his words to be not altogether lost to those about him;  



〃And now; ye butchers; do your work!〃 



A savage yell; in which all the keen hatred and ferocious 

triumph rife in the precincts of the prison simultaneously 

burst forth; and accompanied the departure of the dragoons; 

as they were quietly filing off。 



The Count tarried behind; facing to the last the infuriated 

populace; which advanced at the same rate as the Count 

retired。 



John de Witt; therefore; had by no means exaggerated the 

danger; when; assisting his brother in getting up; he 

hurried his departure。 Cornelius; leaning on the arm of the 

Ex…Grand Pensionary; descended the stairs which led to the 

courtyard。 At the bottom of the staircase he found little 

Rosa; trembling all over。 



〃Oh; Mynheer John;〃 she said; 〃what a misfortune!〃 



〃What is it; my child?〃 asked De Witt。 



〃They say that they are gone to the Town…hall to fetch the 

order for Tilly's horse to withdraw。〃 



〃You do not say so!〃 replied John。 〃Indeed; my dear child; 

if the dragoons are off; we shall be in a very sad plight。〃 



〃I have some advice to give you;〃 Rosa said; trembling even 

more violently than before。 



〃Well; let us hear what you have to say; my child。 Why 

should not God speak by your mouth?〃 



〃Now; then; Mynheer John; if I were in your place; I should 

not go out through the main street。〃 



〃And why so; as the dragoons of Tilly are still at their 

post?〃 



〃Yes; but their order; as long as it is not revoked; enjoins 

them to stop before the prison。〃 



〃Undoubtedly。〃 



〃Have you got an order for them to accompany you out of the 

town?〃 



〃We have not?〃 



〃Well; then; in the very moment when you have passed the 

ranks of the dragoons you will fall into the hands of the 

people。〃 



〃But the burgher guard?〃 



〃Alas! the burgher guard are the most enraged of all。〃 



〃What are we to do; then?〃 



〃If I were in your place; Mynheer John;〃 the young girl 

timidly continued; 〃I should leave by the postern; which 

leads into a deserted by…lane; whilst all the people are 

waiting in the High Street to see you come out by the 

principal entrance。 From there I should try to reach the 

gate by which you intend to leave the town。〃 



〃But my brother is not able to walk;〃 said John。 



〃I shall try;〃 Cornelius said; with an expression of most 

sublime fortitude。 



〃But have you not got your carriage?〃 asked the girl。 



〃The carriage is down near the great entrance。〃 



〃Not so;〃 she replied。 〃I considered your coachman to be a 

faithful man; and I told him to wait for you at the 

postern。〃 



The two brothers looked first at each other; and then at 

Rosa; with a glance full of the most tender gratitude。 



〃The question is now;〃 said the Grand Pensionary; 〃whether 

Gryphus will open this door for us。〃 



〃Indeed; he will do no such thing;〃 said Rosa。 



〃Well; and how then?〃 



〃I have foreseen his refusal; and just now whilst he was 

talking from the window of the porter's lodge with a 

dragoon; I took away the key from his bunch。〃 



〃And you have got it?〃 



〃Here it is; Mynheer John。〃 



〃My child;〃 said Cornelius; 〃I have nothing to give you in 

exchange for the service you are rendering us but the Bible 

which you will find in my room; it is the last gift of an 

honest man; I hope it will bring you good luck。〃 



〃I thank you; Master Cornelius; it shall never leave me;〃 

replied Rosa。 



And then; with a sigh; she said to herself; 〃What a pity 

that I do not know how to read!〃 



〃The shouts and cries are growing louder and louder;〃 said 

John; 〃there is not a moment to be lost。〃 



〃Come along; gentlemen;〃 said the girl; who now led the two 

brothers through an inner lobby to the back of the prison。 

Guided by her; they descended a staircase of about a dozen 

steps; traversed a small courtyard; which was surrounded by 

castellated walls; and; the arched door having been opened 

for them by Rosa; they emerged into a lonely street where 

their carriage was ready to receive them。 



〃Quick; quick; my masters! do you hear them?〃 cried the 

coachman; in a deadly fright。 



Yet; after having made Cornelius get into the carriage 

first; the Grand Pensionary turned round towards the girl; 

to whom he said;  



〃Good…bye; my child! words could never express our 

gratitude。 God will reward you for having saved the lives of 

two men。〃 



Rosa took the hand which John de Witt proffered to her; and 

kissed it with every show of respect。 



〃Go! for Heaven's sake; go!〃 she said; 〃it seems they are 

going to force the gate。〃 



John de Witt hastily got in; sat himself down by the side of 

his brother; and; fastening the apron of the carriage; 

called out to the coachman;  



〃To the Tol…Hek!〃 



The Tol…Hek was the iron gate leading to the harbor of 

Schevening; in which a small vessel was waiting for the two 

brothers。 



The carriage drove off with the fugitives at the full speed 

of a pair of spirited Flemish horses。 Rosa followed them 

with her eyes until they turned the corner of the street; 

upon which; closing the door after her; she went back and 

threw the key into a cell。 



The noise which had made Rosa suppose that the people were 

forcing the prison door was indeed owing to the mob 

battering against it after the square had been left by the 

military。 



Solid as the gate was; and although Gryphus; to do him 

justice; stoutly enough refused to open it; yet evidently it 

could not resist much longer; and the jailer; growing very 

pale; put to himself the question whether it would not be 

better to open the door than to allow it to be forced; when 

he felt some one gently pulling his coat。 



He turned round and saw Rosa。 



〃Do you hear these madmen?〃 he said。 



〃I hear them so well; my father; that in your place  〃 



〃You would open the door?〃 



〃No; I should allow it to be forced。〃 



〃But they will kill me!〃 



〃Yes; if they see you。〃 



〃How shall they not see me?〃 



〃Hide yourself。〃 



〃Where?〃 



〃In the secret dungeon。〃 



〃But you; my child?〃 



〃I shall get into it with you。 We shall lock the door and 

when they have left the prison; we shall again come forth 

from our hiding place。〃 



〃Zounds; you are right; there!〃 cried Gryphus; 〃it's 

surprising how much sense there is in such a little head!〃 



Then; as the gate began to give way amidst the triumphant 

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