Part 104 (2/2)
”Well, it is you who will make the attack, not wait for it, if you will trust to me.”--”Ah!” cried William, ”that is something like speaking.”
”At this moment,” said the stranger, who saw that he might reckon on the prince's support, ”the s.h.i.+ps of M. de Joyeuse are getting ready.”
”How do you know that, monseigneur?” cried many voices together.
”I know it,” replied he.
A murmur of doubt was half uttered, but the stranger caught it.
”Do you doubt it?” asked he, in the tone of a man accustomed to control all fears, prejudices, and self-loves.
”We do not doubt it if your highness says it; but if you will permit us to observe--”
”Speak.”
”That if it were so we should have had tidings of it.”
”How so?”--”By our spies.”
CHAPTER LXIV.
MONSEIGNEUR.
At this moment another man entered the hall, and came forward respectfully.
”Ah! it is you, my friend,” said the burgomaster.
”Myself, monsieur,” replied the man.
”Monseigneur,” said the burgomaster, ”it is the man whom we sent to reconnoiter.”
At the word ”monseigneur,” addressed not to the Prince of Orange, the new comer made a movement of surprise and joy, and advanced quickly to see better who was designated by this t.i.tle. He was one of those Flemish sailors, of whom the type is so recognizable, being marked, a square head, blue eyes, short neck, and broad shoulders; he crushed in his large hands his woolen cap, and as he advanced he left behind him a line of wet, for his clothes were dripping with water.
”Oh! here is a brave man who has swum back,” said monseigneur, looking at the man with his accustomed air of authority.
”Yes, monseigneur, yes; and the Scheldt is broad and rapid,” said the sailor, eagerly.
”Speak, Goes, speak,” said monseigneur, knowing how a sailor would prize being thus called by his name.
Thus from that minute Goes addressed himself to the unknown exclusively; although, having been sent by another, it was to him that he should have given an account of his mission.
”Monseigneur,” said he, ”I set out in my smallest bark and pa.s.sed, by giving the word, through all our s.h.i.+ps, and reached those cursed French.
Ah! pardon, monseigneur.”
The stranger smiled and said, ”Never mind, I am but half French, so should be but half cursed.”
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