monseigneur?" cried many voices together.

"I know it," replied he.

A murmur of doubt was half uttered, but the stranger caught it.

"Do you doubt it?" asked he, in the tone of a man accustomed to control
all fears, prejudices, and self-loves.

"We do not doubt it if your highness says it; but if you will permit us
to observe--"

"Speak."

"That if it were so we should have had tidings of it."

"How so?"--"By our spies."

CHAPTER LXIV.

MONSEIGNEUR.

At this moment another man entered the hall, and came forward
respectfully.

"Ah! it is you, my friend," said the burgomaster.

"Myself, monsieur," replied the man.

"Monseigneur," said the burgomaster, "it is the man whom we sent to
reconnoiter."

At the word "monseigneur," addressed not to the Prince of Orange, the
new comer made a movement of surprise and joy, and advanced quickly to
see better who was designated by this title. He was one of those Flemish
sailors, of whom the type is so recognizable, being marked, a square
head, blue eyes, short neck, and broad shoulders; he crushed in his
large hands his woolen cap, and as he advanced he left behind him a line
of wet, for his clothes were dripping with water.

"Oh! here is a brave man who has swum back," said monseigneur, looking
at the man with his accustomed air of authority.

"Yes, monseigneur, yes; and the Scheldt is broad and rapid," said the
sailor, eagerly.

"Speak, Goes, speak," said monseigneur, knowing how a sailor would prize
being thus called by his name.

Thus from that minute Goes addressed himself to the unknown exclusively;
although, having been sent by another, it was to him that he should have
given an account of his mission.

"Monseigneur," said he, "I set out in my smallest bark and passed, by
giving the word, through all our ships, and reached those cursed French.
Ah! pardon, monseigneur."

The stranger smiled and said, "Never mind, I am but half French, so
should be but half cursed."

"Then monseigneur pardons me?"

He nodded, and Goes went on.

"While I rowed in the dark with my oars wrapped in cloth, I heard a
voice crying, 'Hola! bark, what do you want?' I thought it was to me
that the question was addressed, and was about to reply something or
other, when I heard some one cry behind me, 'Admiral's boat.'"

Monseigneur looked at the council.

"At the same moment," continued Gues, "I felt a shock; my bark was
swamped, and I fell into the water, but the