dy victory, and
had been greeted by his old colonel, the brave Romero, the bold
cavalry-commander, Mendoza, and other distinguished officers as one of
themselves. Since these aristocrats had become mutineers, the Eletto
was a brother, and they did not disdain to secure his cooperation in the
attack they were planning upon Antwerp.

He had shown great courage under fire, and wherever he appeared, his
countrymen held out their hands to him, vowing obedience and loyalty
unto death.

Ulrich felt as if he were walking on air, mere existence was a joy to
him. No prince could revel in the blissful consciousness of increasing
power, more fully than he. The evening after the decision he had
attended a splendid banquet with Romero, Vargas, Mendoza, Tassis, and
the next morning the prisoners, who had fallen into the hands of his
men, were brought before him.

He had left the examination of the students, citizens' sons, and
peasants to his lieutenant; but there were also three noblemen, from
whom large ransoms could be obtained. The two older ones had granted
what he asked and been led away; the third, a tall man in knightly
armor, was left last.

Ulrich had personally encountered the latter. The prisoner, mounted upon
a tall steed, had pressed him very closely; nay, the Eletto's victory
was not decided, until a musket-shot had stretched the other's horse on
the ground.

The knight now carried his arm in a sling. In the centre of his coat of
mail and on the shoulder-pieces of his armor, the ensigns armorial of a
noble family were embossed.

"You were dragged out from under your horse," said the Eletto to the
knight. "You wield an excellent blade."

He had spoken in Spanish, but the other shrugged his shoulders, and
answered in the German language "I don't understand Spanish."

"Are you a German?" Ulrich now asked in his native tongue. "How do you
happen to be among the Netherland rebels?"

The nobleman looked at the Eletto in surprise. But the latter, giving
him no time for reflection, continued "I understand German; your
answer?"

"I had business in Antwerp?"

"What business?"

"That is my affair."

"Very well. Then we will drop courtesy and adopt a different tone."

"Nay, I am the vanquished party, and will answer you."

"Well then?"

"I had stuffs to buy."

"Are you a merchant?"

The knight shook his head and answered, smiling: "We have rebuilt our
castle since the fire."

"And now you need hangings a