there was to be little sleep for me that night. I went to my quarters, flung off my cloak, and sat. I was not ill-pleased with myself. And the bag of money looked better now Gabrielle had gone. You sneer? Well, I am but a man: and truly I had spoiled the Egyptians. O my honest friends, 'tis we cruel, cunning soldiers who give you the chance to be honest in safety!
A heavy step sounded on the stair, and Gaspar Wiederman flung open the door.
"Ach! so the fox is back in his hole," he grunted. "You must come with me, my brave captain! Devil of devils! have you got your wages already?" he cried, and he caught up the bag of crowns.
"I never waste time," quoth I.
"Gott! nor I. So come on, my brave traitor!"
"Whither?"
"To Laurenz de St. Trond, my pedlar!"
"Laurenz de St. Trond!" I repeated. "Does he know I" I began.
"Ay, he knows," said Gaspar, with a grim chuckle. We went out into the street. As we passed the postern I saw it was guarded by burghers now. Some of my own men lounging in the doorways laughed as we went by.
"Which side are we on, captain?" cried one as I passed. "Only tell us, and we fight! Only tell us!"
Gaspar chuckled.
"We are not all cowards!" he grunted in my ear.
But further on Vermeil met us with a little troop.
"Do you go of your own will, captain?" he cried.
"Yes," I answered. "Keep the peace!"
Vermeil fell back frowning, and Gaspar chuckled again.
We turned into the street where the burgomaster's house stood, and began to pass through a little throng of burghers. When they saw my face they began to hoot and jeer and hiss.
"Are you proud of your friends?" I said to Gaspar.
"This is your wages," he grunted.
In a large bare room sat Laurenz de St. Trond and the burgomaster of Breuthe town, talking anxiously together.
"He came like a sheep!" quoth Gaspar as we entered. The burgomaster scowled at me. He was a little man with red hair and a freckled face and nervous fidgety hands.
"Two halberdiers!" he said in a piping voice, and two of their weedy citizen soldiers took their stand by me.
St. Trond sat up in his chair, and I saw by his face that he knew I had brought his daughter back. The deep-set eyes were almost gay now; but then as he looked at me they grew gloomy again.
"John Newstead!" he said in a low voice. "It is charged against you, that you, an officer, bearing the commission of William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, have been false to him in seeking to betray the town of Breuthe into the hands of the enemy. Are you guilty or not guilty?" Gaspar chuckled.
"Not guilty!" said I.
St. Trond looked at me keenly, and his lips twitched as he bent his brows. He was trying to believe the best of me; and—cordieu! you will agree things looked black. But I saved his daughter.
Gaspar stept forward.
"This afternoon he spoke of selling Breuthe; this evening he went into Alva's camp. Gott! do you ask for more? He came back safe!"
"You swear that for the truth?" cried the burgomaster.
"I swear it," said Gaspar, and sat down.
"And how much does that prove?" I asked.
"Enough to hang you," squeaked the burgomaster.
"It proves little," said Laurenz de St. Trond slowly. "Why did you go to the camp?"
"To save Breuthe!" said I. St. Trond frowned and the two others laughed scornfully.
"This is no time for jesting," quoth St. Trond gravely. "Call my daughter!" Gaspar shifted his chair with a grunt of surprise.
She entered; her face was white as her dress.
"Tell us how you escaped," said St. Trond.
She began to speak in a low voice, with her eyes on the ground.
"It was at the auction," she said, and the blood came up into her face. "Master Newstead was there among all the Spaniards. And he brought me away safe through all their men."
"Ay, but how?" quoth Gaspar, leaning forward.
"He bought me," she answered, and we could scarce hear her words. There was a moment's silence.
"Ach! but why did they let him? And how did you pass their lines?" said Gaspar at last.
She looked at me for a moment, and her eyes were wet; I can feel it now. Then she turned to her father with a silent entreaty.
"Answer," said St. Trond.
"He had a safe-conduct," she said.
"From Alva? I thought so," grunted Gaspar.
"’Tis enough," cried the burgomaster.
"But he came to the camp to save me, not to betray the town," cried Gabrielle.
"Did he say so?" grunted Gaspar.
"N—no," she said. "I—I thought so."