ic of this town, and administrator of the laws, it is
my duty to set the example of obedience to them, at the same time
protesting my entire innocence. Koops, get me my mantle. Mynheer
Engelback, I claim to be treated with the respect due to me, as syndic
of this town."

The officers were not a little staggered at the coolness and sang-froid
of Mynheer Krause, he had never appeared to so such advantage; they
bowed respectfully as he finished his speech.

"I believe, Mynheer Krause, that you have some friends staying with
you?"

"I have no friend in the house except my very particular friend, Mynheer
Engelback," replied the syndic.

"You must excuse us, but we must search the house."

"You have his majesty's warrant so to do, and no excuse is necessary."

After a diligent search of half an hour, nobody was found in the house,
and the officers began to suspect that the Government had been imposed
upon. Mynheer Krause, with every mark of attention and respect, was
then walked off to the Hotel de Ville, where he remained in custody, for
it was not considered right by the authorities that the syndic should be
thrown into the common prison upon suspicion only. When he arrived
there, Mynheer Krause surprised them all by the philosophy with which he
smoked his pipe.

But, although there was nobody to be found, except the syndic in the
syndic's house, and not a soul at the house inhabited by the Jesuit,
there was one more person included in the warrant, which was the widow
Vandersloosh; for Lord Albemarle, although convinced in his own mind of
her innocence, could not take upon himself to interfere with the
decisions of the council: so, about one o'clock, there was a loud
knocking at the widow's door, which was repeated again and again before
it awoke the widow, who was fatigued with her long and hot journey to
the Hague. As for Babette, she made a rule never to wake at anything
but the magical Number 6, sounded, by the church clock, she was awoken
by her mistress's voice.

"Babette," cried the widow Vandersloosh, "Babette."

"Yes, ma'am."

"There's a knock at the door, Babette."

"Only some drunken sailors, ma'am--they go away when they find they
cannot get in."

Here the peals were redoubled.

"Babette, get up Babette--and threaten them with the watch."

"Yes, ma'am," replied Babette, with a terrible yawn.

Knocking and thumping with strokes louder than before.

"Babette, Babette!"

"I must put some