er fair hands with the moist and black earth; the
very thought is unbearable!" He again rose and paced across the room,
half inclined to order his servants to prepare for an instant journey.
"If I remain I shall have to share the sufferings these obstinate
citizens are preparing to bring down on themselves, or indeed I may lose
my life. I would rather sacrifice my property than do that. I may by
joining General Valdez at once gain better terms for them, little as
they deserve it at my hands, at all events I shall secure my own
possessions." He rang a bell to summon an attendant, but no one
answered to the call. At length he inquired of the old one-legged
porter who had admitted him, when, to his disgust, he found that the
whole of his establishment had gone out to labour at the fortifications.
"They will soon get tired of the work and return," he said to himself,
but the delay gave him further time for reflection. "If I go I must
abandon all hope of winning the Lily of Leyden, unless the city is
speedily captured and I am able to save her from the terrible danger she
would incur during the assault. For her sake I must not allow her to
run that risk; no, the only safe course, as far as she is concerned, for
me to follow is to remain either to gain her father's consent to our
immediate union, or to persuade her to fly with me, while there is yet
time, to a place of safety. She might be unwilling to go to the Hague,
but I might take her to Delft or Rotterdam, where she would be equally
safe; and although she might at first regret having left her father and
other friends in this city, a very few weeks will show her what a
merciful escape she has had. It may yet be some days before Valdez and
his army can reach the neighbourhood, I will remain and employ the time
in endeavouring to persuade her to take the only step which can secure
her safety. I cannot bear the thought that one so lovely should be
doomed to the fearful fate in which she will be involved when the
Spaniards capture the city."

Fortunately there were few in Leyden who entertained the baron's
opinions. While he remained at home, his mind agitated by conflicting
doubts and fears, the rest of the inhabitants were engaged as has been
described. The commandant, accompanied by his son Albert, remained
chiefly on the ramparts; he had to inspect the firearms as they were
repaired or manufactured by the armourers, ceaselessly working day and
night, and he h