her Damianus beckoned to the acolytes, with whom he
had lingered in the background, and aided by them and Belotti put the lid
on the coffin, then turned to Peter Van der Werff, saying:

"We intend to bury Fraulein Van Hoogstraten at midnight, that no offence
may be given."

"Very well, sir!" replied the burgomaster. "Whatever may happen, we shall
not expel you from the city. Of course, if you prefer to go to the
Spaniards--"

Damianus shook his head and, interrupting the burgomaster, answered
modestly:

"No, sir; I am a native of Utrecht and will gladly pray for the liberty
of Holland."

"There, there!" exclaimed Van Hout. "Those were good words, admirable
words! Your hand, Father."

"There it is; and, so long as you don't change the 'haec libertatis ergo'
on your coins to 'haec religionis ergo,' not one of those words need be
altered."

"A free country and in it religious liberty for each individual, even for
you and your followers," said the burgomaster, "is what we desire. Doctor
Bontius has spoken of you, worthy man; you have cared well for this dead
woman. Bury her according to the customs of your church; we have come to
arrange the earthly possessions she leaves behind. Perhaps this casket
may contain the will."

"No, sir," replied the priest. "She opened the sealed paper in my
presence, when she was first taken sick, and wrote a few words whenever
she felt stronger. An hour before her end, she ordered the notary to be
sent for, but when he came life had departed. I could not remain
constantly beside the corpse, so I locked up the paper in the linen
chest. There is the key."

The opened will was soon found. The burgomaster quietly unfolded it, and,
while reading its contents aloud, the notary and city clerk looked over
his shoulder.

The property was to be divided among various churches and convents, where
masses were to be read for her soul, and her nearest blood relations.
Belotti and Denise received small legacies.

"It is fortunate," exclaimed Van Hout, "that this paper is a piece of
paper and nothing more."

"The document has no legal value whatever," added the notary, "for it was
taken from me and opened with the explicit statement, that changes were
to be made. Here is a great deal to be read on the back."

The task, that the gentlemen now undertook, was no easy one, for the sick
woman had scrawled short notes above and below, hither and thither, on
the blank back of the document, probably