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〃Very well； that will do。〃
〃But your writing will be illegible。〃
〃Just leave me alone for that；〃 said Cornelius。 〃The
executioners have indeed pinched me badly enough； but my
hand will not tremble once in tracing the few lines which
are requisite。〃
And really Cornelius took the pencil and began to write；
when through the white linen bandages drops of blood oozed
out which the pressure of the fingers against the pencil
squeezed from the raw flesh。
A cold sweat stood on the brow of the Grand Pensionary。
Cornelius wrote：
〃My dear Godson；
〃Burn the parcel which I have intrusted to you。 Burn it
without looking at it； and without opening it； so that its
contents may for ever remain unknown to yourself。 Secrets of
this description are death to those with whom they are
deposited。 Burn it； and you will have saved John and
Cornelius de Witt。
〃Farewell； and love me。
〃Cornelius de Witt
〃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