to receive!"

"In troth," said the good citizen, much moved with her pathetic appeal,
"I think, Peter, that this pretty maiden hath a touch of our Trudchen's
sweet look--I thought so from the first, and that this brisk youth here,
who is so ready with his advice, is somewhat like Trudchen's bachelor--I
wager a groat, Peter, that this is a true love matter, and it is a sin
not to further it."

"It were shame and sin both," said Peter, a good natured Fleming,
notwithstanding all his self conceit, and as he spoke he wiped his eyes
with the sleeve of his jerkin.

"She shall be my daughter, then," said Pavillon, "well wrapped up in her
black silk veil and if there are not enough of true hearted skinners
to protect her, being the daughter of their Syndic, it were pity
they should ever tug leather more.--But hark ye--questions must be
answered--How if I am asked what should my daughter make here at such an
onslaught?"

"What should half the women in Liege make here when they followed us to
the castle?" said Peter. "They had no other reason, sure, but that it
was just the place in the world that they should not have come to. Our
yung frau Trudchen has come a little farther than the rest--that is
all."

"Admirably spoken," said Quentin, "only be bold, and take this
gentleman's good counsel, noble Meinheer Pavillon, and, at no trouble
to yourself, you will do the most worthy action since the days of
Charlemagne.--Here, sweet lady, wrap yourself close in this veil" (for
many articles of female apparel lay scattered about the apartment)--"be
but confident, and a few minutes will place you in freedom and safety.
Noble Sir," he added, addressing Pavillon, "set forward."

"Hold--hold--hold a minute," said Pavillon, "my mind misgives me!--This
De la Marck is a fury, a perfect boar in his nature as in his name, what
if the young lady be one of those of Croye?--and what if he discover
her, and be addicted to wrath?"

"And if I were one of those unfortunate women," said Isabelle, again
attempting to throw herself at his feet, "could you for that reject me
in this moment of despair? Oh, that I had been indeed your daughter, or
the daughter of the poorest burgher!"

"Not so poor--not so poor neither, young lady--we pay as we go," said
the citizen.

"Forgive me, noble sir," again began the unfortunate maiden.

"Not noble, nor sir, neither," said the Syndic, "a plain burgher of
Liege, that pays bills of exchange in ready guilders