in the time. Anyhow it would be quite easy
for him to go back to her during the night, and bring her into Haarlem
to-morrow. Friend!" he added earnestly, "the situation is
intolerable--unthinkable! After all that we have done, the risks which
we have taken, Gilda's return now--a certain denunciation from her--and
failure and death once more stare us in the face, and this time more
insistently."

"It is unthinkable, as you say," cried Beresteyn vehemently, "but the
situation is not so hopeless as you seem to think. I can go at once to
my father and denounce the rogue to him. I can tell him that I have
reason to believe that the man to whom he has just promised a fortune
for the return of Gilda is the very man who hath abducted her."

"Impossible," said Stoutenburg calmly.

"Why?"

"Your father would have the man arrested, he would be searched, and
papers and letters writ by you to Ben Isaje of Rotterdam will be found
in his possession. These papers would proclaim you the prime mover in
the outrage against your sister."

"True! I had not thought of that. But, instead of going to my father, I
could denounce the rascal to the city magistrate on suspicion of having
abducted my sister. Van der Meer would give me the command of the town
guard sent out to arrest him, I could search him myself and take
possession of all his papers ere I bring him before the magistrate."

"Bah! the magistracy of Haarlem moves with ponderous slowness. While
that oaf, Van der Meer, makes preparations for sending out the town
guard, our rogue will slip through our fingers, and mayhap be back in
Haarlem with Gilda ere we find him again."

"Let me have Jan and one or two of Heemskerk's mercenaries," urged
Beresteyn, "we could seize him and his papers to-night as soon as he
leaves the city gates."

"Then, out of revenge," said Stoutenburg, "he will refuse to tell us
what he hath done with Gilda."

"Bah!" retorted Beresteyn cynically, "here in Haarlem we can always
apply torture."

"Then, if he speaks, Gilda can be back here in time to denounce us all.
No, no, my friend," continued Stoutenburg firmly, "let us own at once
that by trusting that scoundrel we have run our heads into a noose out
of which only our wits can extricate us. We must meet cunning with
cunning, treachery if need be with treachery. Gilda--of course--must
not remain at the mercy of brigands, but she must not be given her
freedom to do us the harm which she hath already