he message and shut down the window.

"Break open the door," cried the officer to his attendants. In a minute
or two the door was burst open, and the party ascended the staircase.

"Mercy on me! Babette, if they arn't come in," cried the widow, who
jumped out of her bed, and nearly shutting her door, which had been left
open for ventilation, she peeped out to see who were the bold intruders;
she perceived a man in black with a white staff.

"What do you want?" screamed the widow, terrified.

"We want Mistress Vandersloosh. Are you that person?" said the officer.

"To be be sure I am. But what do you want here?"

"I must request you to dress and come along with me directly to the
Stadt House," replied the officer, very civilly.

"Gott in himmel! what's the matter?"

"It's on a charge of treasonable practices, madam."

"Oh, ho! I see: Mr Vanslyperken. Very well, good sir; I'll put on my
clothes directly. I'll get up any hour in the night, with pleasure, to
bring that villain--. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see. Babette,
take the gentleman down in the parlour, and give them some bottled beer.
You'll find it very good, sirs; it's of my own brewing. And Babette, you
must come up and help me."

The officer did not think it necessary to undeceive the widow, who
imagined that she was to give evidence against Vanslyperken, not that
she was a prisoner herself. Still, the widow Vandersloosh did not like
being called up at such an unseasonable hour, and thus expressed herself
to Babette as she was dressing herself.

"Well, we shall see the ending of this, Babette.--My under petticoat is
on the chair.--I told the lords the whole truth, every word of it; and I
am convinced that they believed me, too.--Don't pull tight all at once,
Babette; how often do I tell you that. I do believe you missed a
hole.--The cunning villain goes there and says that I--yes,
Babette--that I was a traitor myself; and I said to the lords, 'Do I
look like a traitor?'--My petticoats, Babette; how stupid you are, why,
your eyes are half shut now; you know I always wear the blue first,
then the green, and the red last, and yet you will give me the first
which comes.--He's a handsome lord, that Duke of Portland; he was one of
the _bon_--before King William went over and conquered England, and he
was made a lord for his valour.--My ruff, Babette. The Dutch are a brave
nation.--My bustle now.--How much beer did you give the officers? Mind
you ta