is town of Leyden safe for an honest officer of the law;
there are too many bad characters here, schismatics and resisters of
authority. What? The warrant not ready? Well, I will sign it in blank.
You can fill it in. There. God forgive you, heretics; may your souls
find peace, which is more, I fear, than your bodies will for the next
few hours. Bah! friend Governor, I wish that you had not made me assist
at the execution of that girl last night, especially as I understand she
leaves no property worth having; her white face haunts my mind, I can't
be rid of the look of those great eyes. Oh! these heretics, to what
sorrow do they put us orthodox people! Farewell, friend Governor; yes,
I think I will go out by the back way, some of those turbulent citizens
might be waiting in front. Farewell, and temper justice with mercy if
you can," and he was gone.

Presently Ramiro, who had accompanied him to the gate, returned. Seating
himself on the further side of the table, he drew his rapier and laid it
before him. Then, having first commanded them to bring a chair in which
Foy might sit, since he could not stand because of his wounded leg, he
told the guard to fall back out of hearing, but to be ready should he
need them.

"Not much dignity about that fellow," he said, addressing Martin and
Foy in a cheerful voice; "quite different from the kind of thing you
expected, I daresay. No hooded Dominican priests, no clerks taking
notes, no solemnities, nothing but a little red-faced wretch, perspiring
with terror lest the mob outside should catch him, as for my part I
hope they may. Well, gentlemen, what can you expect, seeing that, to my
knowledge, the man is a bankrupt tailor of Antwerp? However, it is the
substance we have to deal with, not the shadow, and that's real enough,
for his signature on a death warrant is as good as that of the Pope, or
his gracious Majesty King Philip, or, for the matter of that, of Alva
himself. Therefore, you are--dead men."

"As you would have been had I not been fool enough to neglect Martin's
advice out in the Haarlemer Meer and let you escape," answered Foy.

"Precisely, my young friend, but you see my guardian angel was too many
for you, and you did neglect that excellent counsel. But, as it happens,
it is just about the Haarlemer Meer that I want to have a word with
you."

Foy and Martin looked at each other, for now they understood exactly
why they were there, and Ramiro, watching them out o