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The viceroy had kept his word by being the first to break his lance against the enemy, and by a well-directed blow had borne a cavalier, named Alonso de Montalvo, clean out of his saddle. But he was at length overwhelmed by numbers, and, as his companions, one after another, fell by his side, he was left nearly unprotected.
"Then that sufficiently accounts for my very imperfect recollection of the affair" with a glance at George to direct the latter's attention to the explanation. "Proceed, Senor Montalvo," continued the Governor; "tell us all that you know concerning the matter." "Certainly, your Excellency," answered the secretary.
You fidget me by continually rubbing at it." "You have upset the red wine over it, that is all," answered Dirk, sulkily. "It is spoiled." "And little loss either; to tell you the truth, Dirk, I never saw a coat worse cut. You young men should learn in the matter of clothes from the Spanish gentlemen. Look at his Excellency, the Count Montalvo, for instance "
"I fear," he said, "from what I saw just now, that your mission has failed." "It has failed," she answered in such a voice as might be dragged by an evil magic from the lips of a corpse. "He does not know the secret you seek, and, therefore, he cannot tell it." "I am sorry that I cannot believe you," said Montalvo, "so" and he stretched out his hand towards a bell upon the table.
"Is the Jufvrouw Lysbeth van Hout there?" he asked anxiously. "Yes," she replied, but before she could say more Montalvo broke in, inquiring what might be the matter. "Nothing," he answered, "except that she was lost and Dirk van Goorl, my friend, send me to look for her this way while he took the other." "Indeed.
"The cavalry may arrive at any moment," answered Senor Montalvo, "while as for the artillery and the foot soldiers, they should be here by to- morrow's noon." "Ah! I thank you, senor, for the frankness with which you have replied to my questions," said George. "This news is important and unexpected; I must ask you to excuse me, gentlemen, while I retire to confer with my officers.
When at length Saint Leger rejoined Don Sebastian and Senor Montalvo, he found his guests or prisoners, they scarcely knew which to consider themselves awaiting his return in a state of anxiety and perturbation, which they took no pains to conceal.
"To-night, to-night," she urged, "or some of us stay for ever." "I tell you, wife, it is not possible. Am I a rat that I should be bolted from my hole thus by this ferret of a Montalvo? I am a man of peace and no longer young, but let him beware lest I stop here long enough to pass a sword through him."
So, that an example might be made, although he writhed and fenced his best, the noble captain, Count Juan de Montalvo, was sent to serve for fourteen years in the galleys as a common slave. And there, for the while, was an end of him. There also was an end of the strange and tragic courtship of Dirk van Goorl and Lysbeth van Hout.
Then, noble sir, perhaps you will find the Heer Dirk van Goorl and tell him that the Senora, his cousin, is merely enjoying an evening drive, and that if he comes to her house in an hour's time he will find her safe and sound, and with her myself, the Count Juan de Montalvo, whom she has honoured with an invitation to supper."
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