The Black Tulip | Page 7

surf of
popular hatred, as you did the fleet of Van Tromp past the shoals of the
Scheldt to Antwerp."
"With the help of God, Cornelius, we'll at least try," answered John;
"but, first of all, a word with you."
"Speak!"
The shouts began anew.
"Hark, hark!" continued Cornelius, "how angry those people are! Is it
against you, or against me?"
"I should say it is against us both, Cornelius. I told you, my dear
brother, that the Orange party, while assailing us with their absurd
calumnies, have also made it a reproach against us that we have
negotiated with France."
"What blockheads they are!"

"But, indeed, they reproach us with it."
"And yet, if these negotiations had been successful, they would have
prevented the defeats of Rees, Orsay, Wesel, and Rheinberg; the Rhine
would not have been crossed, and Holland might still consider herself
invincible in the midst of her marshes and canals."
"All this is quite true, my dear Cornelius, but still more certain it is, that
if at this moment our correspondence with the Marquis de Louvois
were discovered, skilful pilot as I am, I should not be able to save the
frail barque which is to carry the brothers De Witt and their fortunes
out of Holland. That correspondence, which might prove to honest
people how dearly I love my country, and what sacrifices I have offered
to make for its liberty and glory, would be ruin to us if it fell into the
hands of the Orange party. I hope you have burned the letters before
you left Dort to join me at the Hague."
"My dear brother," Cornelius answered, "your correspondence with M.
de Louvois affords ample proof of your having been of late the greatest,
most generous, and most able citizen of the Seven United Provinces. I
rejoice in the glory of my country; and particularly do I rejoice in your
glory, John. I have taken good care not to burn that correspondence."
"Then we are lost, as far as this life is concerned," quietly said the
Grand Pensionary, approaching the window.
"No, on the contrary, John, we shall at the same time save our lives and
regain our popularity."
"But what have you done with these letters?"
"I have intrusted them to the care of Cornelius van Baerle, my godson,
whom you know, and who lives at Dort."
"Poor honest Van Baerle! who knows so much, and yet thinks of
nothing but of flowers and of God who made them. You have intrusted
him with this fatal secret; it will be his ruin, poor soul!"

"His ruin?"
"Yes, for he will either be strong or he will be weak. If he is strong, he
will, when he hears of what has happened to us, boast of our
acquaintance; if he is weak, he will be afraid on account of his
connection with us: if he is strong, he will betray the secret by his
boldness; if he is weak, he will allow it to be forced from him. In either
case he is lost, and so are we. Let us, therefore, fly, fly, as long as there
is still time."
Cornelius de Witt, raising himself on his couch, and grasping the hand
of his brother, who shuddered at the touch of his linen bandages,
replied, --
"Do not I know my godson? have not I been enabled to read every
thought in Van Baerle's mind, and every sentiment in his heart? You
ask whether he is strong or weak. He is neither the one nor the other;
but that is not now the question. The principal point is, that he is sure
not to divulge the secret, for the very good reason that he does not
know it himself."
John turned round in surprise.
"You must know, my dear brother, that I have been trained in the
school of that distinguished politician John de Witt; and I repeat to you,
that Van Baerle is not aware of the nature and importance of the deposit
which I have intrusted to him."
"Quick then," cried John, "as there is still time, let us convey to him
directions to burn the parcel."
"Through whom?"
"Through my servant Craeke, who was to have accompanied us on
horseback, and who has entered the prison with me, to assist you
downstairs."
"Consider well before having those precious documents burnt, John!"

"I consider, above all things, that the brothers De Witt must necessarily
save their lives, to be able to save their character. If we are dead, who
will defend us? Who will have fully understood our intentions?"
"You expect, then, that they would kill us if those papers were found?"
John, without answering, pointed with his hand to the square, whence,
at that very moment, fierce shouts and savage yells made