Part 4 (1/2)

All things seemed pointing in one direction; and early on Monday morning, Madame de Groot asked leave of Madame Deventer to send back the chest of books to Gorc.u.m.

”My husband is not well; he is wearing himself out with so much study.

If the books are sent away I can persuade him to remain in bed and take some needful repose. I got him to pack them up last night; but if they stay in his sight, he will a.s.suredly remember something more he wants to study, and nothing I can say will then persuade him to keep in bed.”

Madame Deventer was a kind-hearted woman, and sorry for the prisoner's wife. She gave ready consent to the request, and said she would send some soldiers shortly to take the chest away.

The crucial moment had come. Grotius, dressed in the thinnest linen under-garments--for there was not s.p.a.ce for much clothing--took his place in the chest. A book, padded with a cloth, served as a sort of pillow, a few books and papers were placed in such interstices as were left by the curves of his body; and his wife took a solemn farewell of him before she shut down the lid and snapped the key in the lock, giving it in deep silence to Elsje.

Outside the storm still raged and howled, but the tumult of their souls seemed greater; yet Elsje stood with a careless smile on her face as the soldiers entered the room, and Madame de Groot bent over the fire, stirring something in a saucepan, and telling her husband that she would soon have his soup ready, and she hoped he would enjoy it more than his breakfast. The curtains of the alcove bed were drawn, and the ordinary clothes of the prisoner lay upon a chair near it.

”My word, but it is a heavy boxful this time!” exclaimed the men, as they laid hold of the chest.

”To be sure,” cried Elsje; ”what would you have? They are Arminian books, and those are mighty solid, I can tell you. You had best have a care how you treat them when you get to the water. Arminian books have sunk many a good bark ere now, before it has got into harbour!”

The men laughed at the innuendo of the girl's words. It was in truth their adherence to the Arminian side of the great Arminian and Calvinist controversy which had s.h.i.+pwrecked the lives of Grotius and so many others. Elsje chattered gaily to them as they dragged and lifted the heavy chest down the stairs and through the thirteen ponderous doors. She kept them laughing by her droll remarks, and the little anecdotes she retailed for them whenever a halt was called. At last it stood without the last of the doors, and the soldiers paused and wiped their brows.

”Is the chest to be examined before it goes on board?”

Elsje's heart thumped against her ribs. This was the crucial moment. At first when the box had gone in and out its contents had been carefully examined; but as nothing save the books had ever been found there the practice had been given up latterly. But there was never any actual certainty.

Elsje dangled the key from her girdle, and swung it carelessly round and round.

”It always used to be done,” she said, ”but methinks my lord Commandant love not the smell of Arminian books; perchance it smacks too much of brimstone to please him! For of late he has not troubled. But I care not, only pray you make haste. I have marketing to do in Gorc.u.m, and what if all the best things are sold ere I get there, and my poor master lying sick?”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”Is the chest to be examined before it goes on board?”

_Page 48._]

”Ask the will of madame,” said somebody; and the messenger went and returned, whilst Elsje stood almost sick with apprehension, though she never ceased laughing and talking the while.

”Madame says it may pa.s.s,” came the answer back, ”since her lord troubles not now, she will not delay the transit.”

”Perhaps she fears lest some little Arminian imp should spring out upon her!” quoth Elsje merrily; and away they went with their load towards the boat.

It was indeed a rough pa.s.sage that lay before them; and the girl's heart was in her mouth many times ere she got her precious chest safe on board, and securely lashed to keep it from slipping overboard. They laughed at her solicitude; but she always had a ready retort; and a young officer of the garrison, crossing at the same time, was so taken by her rosy face and bright eyes that he sat himself down upon the chest and drummed upon it with his feet, as he chatted with the little servant girl.

”Why do you wave your kerchief?” he asked, as the boat began her rough voyage across the tumbling waters.

”To tell yon children at that window that I am safe afloat. They feared the boat might not go in such a storm. And, fair sir, be pleased to leave kicking of that box, and come away to this better seat; for there is some precious porcelain inside, and if it be broken, I shall get the blame, for I packed it.”

But Elsje's signal was for the straining eyes of her mistress far more than for those of the children. All was well thus far, and the worst of the peril was over; but--but there was still the landing on the other side.

”Take my box first,” she pleaded, as they approached the wharf.

”That lumbersome thing?--that can wait till the last,” answered the skipper, rather surlily; ”'tis as heavy as if it held a man.”

”I have heard tell how a criminal was once carried from prison in a box,” remarked a soldier's wife laughingly, ”and, methinks, if one has so escaped another might. Let us peep inside, maiden!”

Elsje laughed, bending to tie her shoe-string.