the
Town-hall. The noise thereupon sounded through the windows of the hall,
on the balcony of which Mynheers Bowelt and D'Asperen had presented
themselves. These two gentlemen had retired into the building, very
likely from fear of being forced over the balustrade by the pressure of
the crowd.

After this, fluctuating shadows in tumultuous confusion were seen
flitting to and fro across the windows: the council hall was filling.

Suddenly the noise subsided, and as suddenly again it rose with
redoubled intensity, and at last reached such a pitch that the old
building shook to the very roof.

At length, the living stream poured back through the galleries and
stairs to the arched gateway, from which it was seen issuing like waters
from a spout.

At the head of the first group, man was flying rather than running, his
face hideously distorted with satanic glee: this man was the surgeon
Tyckelaer.

"We have it! we have it!" he cried, brandishing a paper in the air.

"They have got the order!" muttered the officer in amazement.

"Well, then," his Highness quietly remarked, "now I know what to believe
with regard to Mynheer Bowelt's honesty and courage: he has neither the
one nor the other."

Then, looking with a steady glance after the crowd which was rushing
along before him, he continued,--

"Let us now go to the Buytenhof, Captain; I expect we shall see a very
strange sight there."

The officer bowed, and, without making any reply, followed in the steps
of his master.

There was an immense crowd in the square and about the neighbourhood of
the prison. But the dragoons of Tilly still kept it in check with the
same success and with the same firmness.

It was not long before the Count heard the increasing din of the
approaching multitude, the first ranks of which rushed on with the
rapidity of a cataract.

At the same time he observed the paper, which was waving above the
surface of clenched fists and glittering arms.

"Halloa!" he said, rising in his stirrups, and touching his lieutenant
with the knob of his sword; "I really believe those rascals have got the
order."

"Dastardly ruffians they are," cried the lieutenant.

It was indeed the order, which the burgher guard received with a roar
of triumph. They immediately sallied forth, with lowered arms and fierce
shouts, to meet Count Tilly's dragoons.

But the Count was not the man to allow them to approach within an
inconvenient distance.

"Stop!" he