o and
see her, and supply me with a dozen gold pieces, I have no doubt that,
properly bestowed, they will work wonders."

I thought Jacob's plan a good one. I knew that old Barbara's public
position had enabled her to become acquainted with a number of people in
the city; and from her acuteness and intelligence I thought it likely
she would have turned this knowledge to good account. I knew she could
gain admittance into places where nobody else could find their way; and
if she was determined to carry out an object, she was not the person
likely to fail from any want of exertion or from over-delicacy. I
wished very much to accompany him, and proposed setting out at once,
without waiting for the return of Master Clough. He, however, urged
that we should first see the factor, and take his advice; perhaps he
might have some other means of liberating Aveline, as well as the
preacher, Overton. The time appeared very long while I waited for the
return of the factor. I could not help thinking that all sorts of
dreadful things might happen to Aveline--that she might be taken away
from Antwerp, or placed in the Inquisition and subjected to torture, to
try and make her condemn her friends. The last idea was too dreadful to
be entertained, and yet such things had been done day after day.

At length Master Clough returned. I inquired eagerly of the success he
had had. He shook his head:

"For our friend Overton I have very little hopes," he said. "For my
dear wife and her two young companions, I may possibly, by bribing high,
succeed, provided they immediately leave the country, undertaking never
to return; forsooth, the latter part of the arrangement would be no
great punishment, as I cannot conceive any one willingly remaining in a
land ruled by that despotic and boastful tyrant, Duke Alva. I was
permitted to see my wife, and I was thus able to keep up her spirits.
My belief is, that the authorities, who have got her in their power,
keep her there, in order to see how much they can draw from me. I am
now going forth to endeavour to raise the sum they require; at the same
time, I have threatened to make a formal complaint to the Court of Spain
of the robbery which has been committed in my house, and of the outrage
to my family by the carrying off of one of its members. Of Mistress
Aveline I have been unable to gain any information."

I told Master Clough of Jacob's proposal, to which he agreed, and at
once placed