Part 104 (1/2)
”I saw that.”
”And the houses loopholed?”
”I did not see that; but it is a good plan.”
”And the sentries doubled?”
”Does not monseigneur approve of these preparations for defense?” said a voice, in a tone of anxious disappointment.
”Yes; but, however, I do not believe that in our circ.u.mstances it will be useful; it fatigues the soldier and disquiets the bourgeois. You have a plan of attack and defense, I suppose?”
”We waited to communicate them to monseigneur,” said the burgomaster.
”Speak then.”
”Monseigneur arrived rather late, and I was obliged to act meanwhile,”
said William.
”And you did right, monseigneur; besides, whatever you do, you do well.
But I have not lost my time on the road, either.”
”We know by our spies,” said the burgomaster, ”that a movement is preparing in the French camp; they are making ready for an attack, but as we do not know on which side it will come, we have disposed the guns so that they may be equally distributed over the whole rampart.”
”That is wise,” replied the unknown, with a slight smile to William, who held his tongue, and let the bourgeois speak of war.
”We have done the same with our civic guards; they are spread over the whole wall, and have orders to run at once to the point of attack.
However, it is the opinion of the greater number of our members that it is impossible that the French meditate anything but a feigned attack.”
”And what purpose would that serve?”
”To intimidate us, and induce us to admit them amicably.”
The stranger looked again at the Prince of Orange, who listened to all this in the most careless manner, which almost amounted to disdain.
”However,” said another voice, ”some fancied they could distinguish preparations for attack in the camp this evening.”
”Mere suspicions,” said the burgomaster; ”I examined the camp myself with an excellent spy-gla.s.s. The men were preparing for sleep, and the duke was dining in his tent.”
The unknown threw a new glance at the prince, and fancied that this time he gave a slight smile.
”Gentlemen,” said the unknown, ”you are in error; a regular a.s.sault is preparing against you, and your plans, however good, are incomplete.”
”But, monseigneur--”
”Incomplete in this, that you expect an attack, and have prepared to meet it.”
”Certainly.”