Part 1 (2/2)
The wealthy merchant Hopper had once been a humble clerk, and he then had married the very beautiful sister of Peter the ferryman. She had died, and her young daughter had been educated as well as any young lady in the land. Diedrich was well aware of the relations.h.i.+p, and it increased the confidence he felt in Peter, who was also of his own way of thinking--indeed, a more thorough Protestant could not have been found.
Diedrich found his way, at the hour appointed, to Peter Kopplestock's cottage down by the river-side. He saw, when leaving his own house, the usual figure following him, but he hoped, by hiding himself as Peter had advised him to do, to escape from his pursuer. The cottage door was ajar. He pushed it open and entered. Peter welcomed him cordially.
”I have sad news for you, my friend,” said the ferryman. ”You have been denounced to the Inquisition as a heretic, and your enemies have resolved to take your life. Among them you may reckon Caspar Gaill. He thinks that by getting rid of you he may win the hand of my fair niece.”
”How do you know that?” asked Diedrich.
”He told me so himself,” said the ferryman. ”He is not aware of our connection, and he takes me to be a Romanist. He confides to me his love for Gretchen, if such a fellow has a heart to love, and, in case she should continue to refuse his hand, he engaged me to a.s.sist him in carrying her off. A pretty proceeding that would be. However, I did not decline his offer, but told him that I was very sure he was premature in executing his plan; that he must wait patiently, and that by-and-by, should the young lady continue obdurate, he might put it into execution.”
”But what do you advise me to do?” asked Diedrich. ”I cannot leave Gretchen--I cannot leave my business to ruin and destruction; I would rather remain and brave the worst.”
”Tell me, have any of those who have been denounced to the Inquisition escaped from their fangs?” said Peter. ”I trow not; then how do you hope to escape death if you remain? Take my advice, my friend; fly while you can, before your wings are clipped. It is a hard thing, I know, for you to leave the girl you love, and it's cruel to neglect a flouris.h.i.+ng business which is affording you a handsome income. But you need not lead a life of indolence. You wear a sword, and you have an arm to wield it. You would be welcomed by those bold rovers of the sea, the 'water beggars.' If you offer your a.s.sistance to William de la Marck, he will gladly accept it. It would be a glorious thing to a.s.sist in liberating your country, and the only aid we can hope for is from the ocean. On sh.o.r.e we cannot withstand the cruel Spaniards, but at sea we may compete with them successfully.”
Diedrich sat silent for some time.
”You cast down my hopes just now, but you have again raised them,” he exclaimed. ”I will go and consult Gretchen. If she urges me to go, I will follow your advice; I am sure that she will remain true to me till I return.”
”I wish that I could persuade you to go off at once,” said Peter; ”your enemies are vigilant, and determined on your destruction, and any moment you may find yourself in their power.”
Diedrich promised to be cautious, and to keep as much as possible within the house during the next day, while he would make all the preparation in his power for his speedy departure, should Gretchen approve of his intention.
Peter told him that there was a vessel down the river on the point of sailing. He was acquainted with the captain, who was a warm partisan of the Prince of Orange, and would do his utmost to protect him should he go on board.
Diedrich Meghem was a brave man, but the Inquisition, he knew too well, was not an inst.i.tution to be trifled with. Poor Gretchen was overwhelmed with grief when she heard of the dangerous position in which Diedrich was placed. She urged him to fly without delay, promising again and again to be faithful to him, and to welcome him as a husband whenever he should return. The merchant Hopper also advised him to leave the country. Diedrich Meghem had made all the arrangements possible with his head clerk and manager, and was still writing busily at his own house, having packed up such articles as he desired to take with him, when Peter Kopplestock hurried into his room.
”It's time for you to be off at once, my friend,” he exclaimed; ”this very night the Inquisitors' officers will visit your house, and if they find you, will carry you off to an imprisonment from which, with life, you will never escape. Here, I have brought this large Spanish cloak; throw it over your shoulders and follow me. Your portmanteau and bags I will take care of.”
It was already too dark to distinguish people in the streets. Peter led the way down to the river, Diedrich following him. They were quickly on board the ferryboat, but Peter, instead of pulling over to the other bank of the river, rowed down the stream as fast as his arms could urge on the boat. Diedrich stepped on board the vessel, where he was welcomed cordially by the skipper. Peter threw his portmanteau and bag over the bulwarks, and giving him his blessing, pulled back to the town.
CHAPTER TWO.
AN UNWELCOME SUITOR--GRETCHEN REFUSES TO ACCEPT CASPAR GAILL--CASPAR PLOTS WITH FATHER QUIXADA TO BETRAY THE PROTESTANTS--THE MONK'S TREACHERY.
Gretchen was seated in the parlour of her father's house, busily employed in tapestry work--the constant occupation of young ladies in those days, as at present. The merchant Hopper came in; care and thought sat on his brow. His daughter affectionately inquired the cause of his anxiety.
”I cannot tell you, my child,” he answered. ”It is enough to know that so many of my friends, in various parts of our unhappy land, have been put to death by fire, and sword, and drowning, through the mandates of the tyrant Alva, and who knows what may be our fate in this city?
Hitherto we have escaped, but the priests are busy, and are even now trying to ferret out the Protestants. I am thankful that our friend Diedrich escaped; he would certainly otherwise have been seized.”
”Oh, Father! I wish you would try and escape too,” said Gretchen; ”I will accompany you. We can go to England, that land of liberty. If you cannot take any of your wealth with you, I will labour for you there.
Surely we shall find friends there, and need not have any fear of starving.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door, and Caspar Gaill was announced. Both the merchant and his daughter received him coldly. He came dressed in gay attire, and seemed to consider himself in the light of a favoured suitor. Now he spoke to Gretchen, now he turned to her father. Again he turned to the young lady, and urged her to promise to be his.
”You know not the danger to which you are exposed,” he observed. ”As the wife of a well-known Catholic you will be safe, and I may be able to protect your father. At present he is in great peril. I do not hesitate to tell him so.”
The merchant, thanking Caspar for his offer, a.s.sured him that he would not bias his daughter.
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