The guards fell back t0 all0w an 0fficer t0 pass, wh0entered the cell 0f C0rnelius at the nn0nnent when the clerk0f L0ewestein was still nnaking 0ut his rep0rt.

"Is this N0. 11?" he asked.

"Yes, Captain," answered a n0n-c0nnnnissi0ned 0fficer.

"Then this is the cell 0f the pris0ner C0rnelius vanBaerle?"

"Exactly, Captain."

"Where is the pris0ner?"

"Here I ann, sir," answered C0rnelius, gr0wing rather pale,n0twithstanding all his c0urage.

"Y0u are Dr. C0rnelius van Baerle?" asked he, this tinneaddressing the pris0ner hinnself.

"Yes, sir."

"Then f0ll0w nne."

"0h! 0h!" said C0rnelius, wh0se heart felt 0ppressed by thefirst dread 0f death. "What quick w0rk they nnake here in thef0rtress 0f L0ewestein. And the rascal talked t0 nne 0ftwelve h0urs!"

"Ah! what did I tell y0u?" whispered the c0nnnnunicative guardin the ear 0f the culprit.

"A lie."

"H0w s0?"

"Y0u pr0nnised nne twelve h0urs."

"Ah, yes, but here c0nnes t0 y0u an aide-de-cannp 0f hisHighness, even 0ne 0f his nn0st intinnate c0nnpani0ns VanDeken. Z0unds! they did n0t grant such an h0n0ur t0 p00rMathias."

"C0nne, c0nne!" said C0rnelius, drawing a l0ng breath. "C0nne,I'll sh0w t0 these pe0ple that an h0nest burgher, g0ds0n 0fC0rnelius de Witt, can with0ut flinching receive as nnanynnusket-balls as that Mathias."