United States or Czechia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Tell her I, his father, setting aside all past grudges, do for this grace thank her, and would she have double thanks, let her send my son's letter by thy faithful hand, the which will I read to his flesh and blood, and will then to her so surely and faithful return, as I am Eli a Dierich a William a Luke, free burgher of Tergou, like my forbears, and like them, a man of my word."
What make you so far from Tergou?" "Open, and you will know." Martin drew the bolt very slowly, and in rushed Dierich and four more. They let in their companion who was at the back door. "Now, Martin, where is Gerard Eliassoen?" "Gerard Eliassoen? Why, he was here but now!" "Was here?" Dierich's countenance fell. "And where is he now?" "They say he has gone to Italy. Why, what is to do?"
"Stuff!" said Martin, recovering his stolid composure; "I was but trying my new string. There! I'll unstring my bow, if you think that." "Humph!" said Dierich suspiciously, "there is something more in you than I understand: put a log on, and let us dry our hides a bit ere we go."
He has imprisoned him, and he has driven him from his birthplace and from his native land. What need now to rob him and us of our good name?" This might at another moment have struck Dierich as good sense; but he was too mortified at this escape of Gerard and the loss of a hundred crowns. "What need had he to steal?" retorted he bitterly.
Dierich made up to them. "Too late!" they cried; "too late! He is gone." "Gone? How long?" "Scarce five minutes. Cursed chance!" "You must go back to the burgomaster at once," said Dierich Brower. "To what end?" "No matter; come!" and he hurried them to the Stadthouse. Ghysbrecht Van Swieten was not the man to accept a defeat. "Well," said he, on hearing the ill news, "suppose he is gone.
And Margaret knelt, quivering from head to foot, and prayed beside Gerard and for Gerard. "What is to do?" replied Jorian to Dierich Brower's query; "why, we have scared the girl out of her wits. She was in a kind of fit." "We had better all go and doctor her, then." "Oh, yes! and frighten her into the churchyard. Her father is a doctor, and I have roused him, and set him to bring her round.
This smooth speech completely imposed on Catherine; but her daughter was more suspicious, and that suspicion was strengthened by the disproportionate anger and disappointment Dierich showed the moment he learned Gerard was not at home, had not been at home that night. "Come away then," said he roughly. "We are wasting time." He added vehemently, "I'll find him if he is above ground."
Then Dierich made a desperate effort, and gained two yards; but in a few seconds Gerard had stolen them quietly back. The pursuers began to curse. Martin heard, and his face lighted up. "Courage, Gerard! courage, brave lad! they are straggling." It was so. Dierich was now headed by one of his men, and another dropped into the rear altogether.
But even as the mule, urged suddenly by Martin's heel, scattered the flints with his hind hoofs ere he got into a canter, and even as Gerard withdrew his foot from Ghysbrecht's throat to run, Dierich Brower and his five men, who had come back for orders, and heard the burgomaster's cries, burst roaring out of the coppice on them.
She tore her hair, and uttered shriek after shriek, so wild, so piercing, they fell like a knell upon the ears of Dierich Brower and his men. All started to their feet and looked at one another.
Word Of The Day