s reach, and, after communicating all the
information which the Prince required, he was dismissed from the
chamber.

It was Sunday morning, and the bells were tolling for church. Upon
leaving the house he loitered about the court-yard, furtively examining
the premises, so that a sergeant of halberdiers asked him why he was
waiting there. Balthazar meekly replied that he was desirous of
attending divine worship in the church opposite, but added, pointing to
his shabby and travel-stained attire, that, without at least a new pair
of shoes and stockings, he was unfit to join the congregation.
Insignificant as ever, the small, pious, dusty stranger excited no
suspicion in the mind of the good-natured sergeant. He forthwith spoke
of the wants of Gerard to an officer, by whom they were communicated to
Orange himself, and the Prince instantly ordered a sum of money to be
given him. Thus Balthazar obtained from William's charity what Parma's
thrift had denied--a fund for carrying out his purpose.

Next morning, with the money thus procured, he purchased a pair of
pistols, or small carabines, from a soldier, chaffering long about the
price because the vender could not supply a particular kind of chopped
bullets or slugs which he desired. Before the sunset of the following
day, that soldier had stabbed himself to the heart, and died despairing,
on hearing for what purpose the pistols had been bought.

On Tuesday, July 10, 1584, at about half-past twelve, the Prince, with
his wife on his arm, and followed by the ladies and gentlemen of his
family, was going to the dining-room. William the Silent was dressed
upon that day, according to his usual custom, in very plain fashion. He
wore a wide-leaved, loosely shaped hat of dark felt, with a silken cord
round the crown--such as had been worn by the Beggars in the early days
of the revolt. A high ruff encircled his neck, from which also depended
one of the Beggars' medals, with the motto, "_Fideles au roy jusqu'a
la besace_," while a loose surcoat of gray frieze cloth, over a tawny
leather doublet, with wide, slashed underclothes, completed his costume.
Gerard presented himself at the doorway and demanded a passport. The
Princess, struck with the pale and agitated countenance of the man,
anxiously questioned her husband concerning the stranger. The Prince
carelessly observed that "it was merely a person who came for a
passport," ordering, at the same time, a secretary forthwith to prep