refore, hearing that you were still in the city, and believing
this proclamation of yours to be the summons and clear command for which
we waited, we have brought you Hendrik Brant's treasure. It is there
upon the cart."

The Prince put his hand to his forehead and reeled back a step.

"You do not jest with me, Foy van Goorl?" he said.

"Indeed no."

"But stay; this treasure is not yours to give, it belongs to Elsa
Brant."

"Sir, the legal title to it is in myself, for my father was Brant's
lawful heir and executor, and I inherit his rights. Moreover, although
a provision for her is charged upon it, it is Elsa's desire--I have
it written here under her hand and witnessed--that the money should be
used, every ducat of it, for the service of the country in such way as I
might find good. Lastly, her father, Hendrik Brant, always believed that
this wealth of his would in due season be of such service. Here is a
copy of his will, in which he directs that we are to apply the money
'for the defence of our country, the freedom of religious Faith, and the
destruction of the Spaniards in such fashion and at such time or times
as God shall reveal to us.' When he gave us charge of it also, his words
to me were: 'I am certain that thousands and tens of thousands of our
folk will live to bless the gold of Hendrik Brant.' On that belief too,
thinking that God put it into his mind, and would reveal His purpose
in His own hour, we have acted all of us, and therefore for the sake of
this stuff we have gone to death and torture. Now it has come about as
Brant foretold; now we understand why all these things have happened,
and why we live, this man and I, to stand before you, sir, to-day,
with the hoard unminished by a single florin, no, not even by Martin's
legacy."

"Man, you jest, you jest!" said Orange.

Foy made a sign, and Martin going to the cart, pulled off the
sail-cloth, revealing the five mud-stained barrels painted, each of
them, with the mark B. There, too, ready for the purpose, were a hammer,
mallet, and chisel. Resting the shafts of the cart upon a table, Martin
climbed into it, and with a few great blows of the mallet, drove in
the head of a cask selected at hazard. Beneath appeared wool, which he
removed, not without fear lest there might be some mistake; then, as he
could wait no longer, he tilted the barrel up and shot its contents out
upon the floor.

As it chanced this was the keg that contained the jewels i