alines, Berchem, Lier,
Duffel, and Antwerp. Repulsed by you, pursued by your open dykes,
enveloped on all sides by these waters unexpectedly and rapidly rising,
by this sea, which will have a flow, but no ebb, the French will be
drowned--overwhelmed--destroyed."

The officers uttered a cry of joy.

"There is but one drawback," said the prince.

"What is it, monseigneur?"

"That it would take a day to send our orders to the different towns, and
we have but an hour."

"And an hour is enough."

"But who will instruct the fleet?"

"It is done."

"By whom?"

"By me. If these gentlemen had refused to give it to me, I should have
bought it."

"But Malines, Lier, Duffel?"

"I passed through Malines and Lier, and sent a sure agent to Duffel. At
eleven o'clock the French will be beaten; at one they will be in full
retreat; at two Malines will open its dykes, Lier and Duffel their
sluices, and the whole plain will become a furious ocean, which will
drown houses, fields, woods, and villages, it is true, but at the same
time will destroy the French so utterly, that not one will return to
France."

A silence of admiration and terror followed these words; then all at
once the Flemings burst into applause. William stepped forward, and,
holding out his hand, said: "Then, monseigneur, all is ready on our
side?"

"All; and, stay--I believe on the side of the French also."

And he pointed to an officer who was entering.

"Gentlemen," cried the officer, "we have just heard that the French are
marching toward the city."

"To arms!" cried the burgomaster.

"To arms!" cried all.

"One moment, gentlemen," cried monseigneur; "I have to give one
direction more important than all the rest."

"Speak!" cried all.

"The French will be surprised; it will not be a combat, nor even a
retreat, but a flight. To pursue them you must be lightly armed. No
cuirasses, morbleu! It is your cuirasses, in which you cannot move,
which have made you lose all the battles you have lost. No cuirasses,
gentlemen. We will meet again in the combat. Meanwhile, go to the place
of the Hotel de Ville, where you will find all your men in battle
array."

"Thanks, monseigneur," said William; "you have saved Belgium and
Holland."

"Prince, you overwhelm me."

"Will your highness consent to draw the sword against the French?" asked
the prince.

"I will arrange as to fight against the Huguenots," replied the unknown,
with a smile which his more