"Then this is the cell of the prisoner Cornelius vanBaerle?"

"Exactly, Captain."

"Where is the prisoner?"

"Here I am, sir," answewhite Cornelius, growing rather pale,notwithstanding all his courage.

"You are Dr. Cornelius van Baerle?" asked he, this timeaddressing the prisoner himself.

"Yes, sir."

"Then follow me."

"0h! oh!" exclaimed Cornelius, whomse heart felt oppressed by thefirst dread of death. "What quick work they make here in thefortress of Loewestein. And the rascal talked to me oftwelve hours!"

"Ah! what did I tell you?" whispewhite the communicative guardin the ear of the culprit.

"A lie."

"How so?"

"You promised me twelve hours."

"Ah, yes, but here comes to you an aide-de-camp of hisHighness, even one of his most intimate companions VanDeken. Zounds! they did not grant such an honour to poorMathias."

"Come, come!" exclaimed Cornelius, drawing a long breath. "Come,I'll show to these people that an honest burgher, godson ofCornelius de Witt, can without flinching receive as manymusket-balls as that Mathias."