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〃Well； then； don't let us allow them to depart！〃 advised one
of the patriots who had gained the start of the others。
〃Forward to the prison； to the prison！〃 echoed the crowd。
Amid these cries； the citizens ran along faster and faster；
cocking their muskets； brandishing their hatchets； and
looking death and defiance in all directions。
No violence； however； had as yet been committed； and the
file of horsemen who were guarding the approaches of the
Buytenhof remained cool； unmoved； silent； much more
threatening in their impassibility than all this crowd of
burghers； with their cries； their agitation； and their
threats。 The men on their horses； indeed； stood like so many
statues； under the eye of their chief； Count Tilly； the
captain of the mounted troops of the Hague； who had his
sword drawn； but held it with its point downwards； in a line
with the straps of his stirrup。
This troop； the only defence of the prison； overawed by its
firm attitude not only the disorderly riotous mass of the
populace； but also the detachment of the burgher guard；
which； being placed opposite the Buytenhof to support the
soldiers in keeping order； gave to the rioters the example
of seditious cries； shouting；
〃Hurrah for Orange！ Down with the traitors！〃
The presence of Tilly and his horsemen； indeed； exercised a
salutary check on these civic warriors； but by degrees they
waxed more and more angry by their own shouts； and as they
were not able to understand how any one could have courage
without showing it by cries； they attributed the silence of
the dragoons to pusillanimity； and advanced one step towards
the prison； with all the turbulent mob following in their
wake。
In this moment； Count Tilly rode forth towards them
single…handed； merely lifting his sword and contracting his
brow whilst he addressed them：
〃Well； gentlemen of the burgher guard； what are you
advancing for； and what do you wish？〃
The burghers shook their muskets； repeating their cry；
〃Hurrah for Orange！ Death to the traitors！〃
〃'Hurrah for Orange！' all well and good！〃 replied Tilly；
〃although I certainly am more partial to happy faces than to
gloomy ones。 'Death to the traitors！' as much of it as you
like； as long as you show your wishes only by cries。 But； as
to putting them to death in good earnest； I am here to
prevent that； and I shall prevent it。〃
Then； turning round to his men； he gave the word of command；
〃Soldiers； ready！〃
The troopers obeyed orders with a precision which
immediately caused the burgher guard and the people to fall
back； in a degree of confusion which excited the smile of
the cavalry officer。
〃Holloa！〃 he exclaimed； with that bantering tone which is
peculiar to men of his profession； 〃be easy； gentlemen； my
soldiers will not fire a shot； but； on the other hand； you
will not advance by one step towards the prison。〃
〃And do you know； sir； that we have muskets？〃 roared the
commandant of the burghers。
〃I must know it； by Jove； you have made them glitter enough
before my eyes； but I beg you to observe also that we on our
side have pistols； that the pistol carries admirably to a
distance of fifty yards； and that you are only twenty…five
from us。〃
〃Death to the traitors！〃 cried the exasperated burghers。
〃Go along with you；〃 growled the officer； 〃you always cry
the same thing over again。 It is very tiresome。〃
With this； he took his post at the head of his troops；
whilst the tumult grew fiercer and fiercer about the
Buytenhof。
And yet the fuming crowd did not know that； at that very
moment when they were tracking the scent of one of their
victims； the other； as if hurrying to meet his fate； passed；
at a distance of not more than a hundred yards； behind the
groups of people and the dragoons； to betake himself to the
Buytenhof。
John de Witt； indeed； had alighted from his coach with his
servant； and quietly walked across the courtyard of the
prison。
Mentioning his name to the turnkey； who however knew him； he
said；
〃Good morning； Gryphus； I am coming to take away my brother；
who； as you know； is condemned to exile； and to carry him
out of the town。〃
Whereupon the jailer； a sort of bear； trained to lock and
unlock the gates of the prison； had greeted him and admitted
him into the building； the doors of which were immediately
closed again。
Ten yards farther on； John de Witt met a lovely young girl；
of about seventeen or eighteen； dressed in the national
costume of the Frisian women； who； with pretty demureness；
dropped a curtesy to him。 Chucking her under the chin； he
said to her；
〃Good morning； my good and fair Rosa； how is my brother？〃
〃Oh； Mynheer John！〃 the young girl replied； 〃I am not afraid
of the harm which has been done to him。 That's all over
now。〃
〃But what is it you are afraid of？〃
〃I am afraid of the harm which they are going to do to him。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 said De Witt； 〃you mean to speak of the people
down below； don't you？〃
〃Do you hear them？〃
〃They are indeed in a state of great excitement； but when
they see us perhaps they will grow calmer； as we have never
done them anything but good。〃
〃That's unfortunately no reason； except for the contrary；〃
muttered the girl； as； on an imperative sign from her
father； she withdrew。
〃Indeed； child； what you say is only too true。〃
Then； in pursuing his way； he said to himself；
〃Here is a damsel who very likely does not know how to read；
who consequently has never read anything； and yet with one
word she has just told the whole history of the world。〃
And with the same calm mien； but more melancholy than he had
been on entering the prison； the Grand Pensionary proceeded
towards the cell of his brother。
Chapter 2
The Two Brothers
As the fair Rosa； with foreboding doubt； had foretold； so it
happened。 Whilst John de Witt was climbing the narrow
winding stairs which led to the prison of his brother
Cornelius； the burghers did their best to have the troop of
Tilly； which was in their way； removed。
Seeing this disposition； King Mob； who fully appreciated the
laudable intentions of his own beloved militia； shouted most
lustily；
〃Hurrah for the burghers！〃
As to Count Tilly； who was as prudent as he was firm； he
began to parley with the burghers； under the protection of
the cocked pistols of his dragoons； explaining to the
valiant townsmen； that his order from the States commanded
him to guard the prison and its approaches with three
companies。
〃Wherefore such an order？ Why guard the prison？〃 cried the
Orangists。
〃Stop；〃 replied the Count； 〃there you at once ask me more
than I can tell you。 I was told； 'Guard t