The Blacksmith's Hammer; or, The Peasant Code: A Tale of the Grand Monarch

by Eugène Sue

  CHAPTER VI.

  CORNELIUS DE WITT.

  Monsieur Tilly, dressed in full uniform, wore the distinctive signs ofhis rank--a high collar and a scarf. He was pale, and so visiblydisturbed that, struck by his appearance, John De Witt asked with alarm:

  "My friend--you must be the bearer of tidings that portend some publiccalamity?"

  "A great calamity!" answered Monsieur Tilly with a faltering voice. "Anirreparable calamity!"

  "What has happened?" inquired John De Witt. "What are the frightfultidings that you bring me?" And looking towards Salaun Lebrenn and hisson he added: "These friends are countrymen of Monsieur Serdan's. Youmay speak freely before them."

  "My friend," said Monsieur Tilly, hardly able to control his emotions,"you must leave The Hague this very day--you must depart within an hour,if possible. You must flee!"

  "Flee!" cried John De Witt astounded. "Flee like a criminal! And whyshould I leave The Hague?"

  "You must leave! Go quickly, I implore you, in the name of your wife anddaughters. Depart!"

  "Tilly," replied John De Witt. "I am not devoid of courage. I should atleast know the cause of your alarm!"

  "Yes; you have a strong soul; yes, you sustain the blows of adversitywith the serenity of an upright man--but however strong your soul, it isat the same time susceptible of great tenderness for the objects of youraffection--you feel the smart of the blows that strike them--and--"

  "My brother!" cried John De Witt turning pale and breaking in uponMonsieur Tilly. "It is about my brother!"

  "Ask me no more questions--embrace your wife and daughters--and leaveThe Hague on the spot--you must not delay an instant!"

  "But my brother--my dear and good brother--what has befallen him?"

  "In God's name, spend no time with questions--depart--a few minutes moreand it will be too late."

  A tremor ran over John De Witt's frame. He wiped the perspiration fromhis forehead, and overpowering his emotion, bowed to Salaun Lebrenn andhis son, saying to them in a firm voice: "You will have to excuse me, myfriends, if I leave you. I can not remain any longer in this painfuluncertainty regarding my brother's fate. I shall hurry to the castle,where he is confined."

  "John!" broke in Monsieur Tilly, throwing himself in the way of theGrand Pensionary of Holland. "You shall not go there! By God! You shallnot go to the castle--I shall tell you all--"

  "They have killed him!" cried John De Witt in heartrending accents."Unhappy me, they have killed him!"

  "No," replied Monsieur Tilly in despair; "no, I assure you, Cornelius isnot dead!"

  This assurance allayed the poignancy of John De Witt's anxiety. Butstill staggering under the blow of his terrible apprehension, he felthis knees give way under him, and he leaned on the edge of the table,unable to articulate a word. Salaun Lebrenn and his son stood inconsternation, dreading some great misfortune, and looked at MonsieurTilly with uneasy curiosity, while Serdan said to him in a low voice:"Alas! A moment ago John De Witt felt perfectly at ease on the score ofthe charge against his brother. I dared not mention to him the fearsthat you expressed to me this morning."

  Serdan broke off as he heard John De Witt say to Tilly in a calm voice:"Pardon my weakness, my friend. There are unexpected blows that take oneby surprise, and floor him. Thanks to God, my brother still lives.Speak, I listen."

  "As late as this morning I was as certain as yourself of theworthlessness of the charges preferred against Cornelius. I was in thatframe of mind until I met an officer of the bourgeois militia thatguards the prison, and who is of our party. From him I learned of thewild popular exasperation against yourself, your brother and the Frenchparty, who are considered accomplices in the ferocities committed by thetroops of Louis XIV, and that this exasperation was assuming such aviolent aspect that the tribunal, before which Cornelius was to be triedand which consists of bitter Orangemen, decided, with a view ofsatisfying the blind popular rage,--decided," repeated Monsieur Tillywith a shudder, "to submit your brother to the torture, and compel himto confess his crime. The atrocious project has been carried out!"

  "Good God!" cried John De Witt, raising his hands and eyes heavenward."What frightful tidings!"

  Serdan, Salaun Lebrenn and his son could not restrain a cry ofindignation and horror.

  "But perhaps my brother is expiring from the consequences of thetorture!" exclaimed John De Witt in despair.

  "Notwithstanding the sufferings he has undergone, your brother's life issafe," answered Tilly. "I pledge you my word."

  "The infamous wretches! To believe that the torture could wrest from aDe Witt the admission of a crime which he is guiltless of!" exclaimedJohn De Witt in a smothered voice. "I am certain my brother underwentthe ordeal of the torture with heroic serenity. Proceed, my friend, Ifeel strong enough to listen."

  "I have my information direct from the court registrar who witnessed thehorrible scene," continued Tilly. "Cornelius was tied down upon a table.His hands were placed by the executioner between two iron plates, heldtogether by screws, the slightest turn downward of which would break thepatient's bones."

  "Oh!" cried Serdan, horrified. "These are shocking details!"

  "Tilly," said John De Witt in a firm voice, "conceal nothing from me. Iwant to know everything. Oh, my brother! Poor, dear victim!"

  "During the preparation for the torture, the face of Cornelius was paleand impassive. One of the judges approached him: 'Are you ready to makea confession?' he asked your brother. 'I have nothing to confess,' washis answer. 'Then you persist in denying that you plotted to assassinatethe Prince of Orange?' 'Monsieur,' replied Cornelius, 'had I desired toassassinate the Prince of Orange, I would not have employed another'sarm.' 'Prisoner,' rejoined the judge, 'torture may compel you to confesswhat you now refuse to admit.' 'Monsieur, you will cut me to piecesbefore you can make me confess an act that I never even thought of.''Then you deny?' 'I deny.' Upon a sign from the judge, the executionergave the screws a turn; the plates drew closer together, and crushedCornelius's hands. His suffering was cruel, yet he remained silent,impassive. Suddenly a wild clamor from the mob that was gathered at thefoot of the tower, reached your brother's ears. 'Death to the Frenchparty!' 'Death to the accomplices of Louis XIV!' 'Death to De Witt!'Upon hearing these cries, the registrar informed me, your brother raisedhis head and turned his inspired eyes to the ceiling of the prison; hisfeatures were transfigured; they were serenely resplendent; a divinesmile flitted over his lips; his moral courage dominated the agonies ofthe body; and, as the mob without redoubled its cries for his death,Cornelius recited in a powerful ringing voice this strophe from Horace:

  "'_Neither the unjust clamor of the people, nor the angry frown of atyrant, is able to dethrone the mind of a man upright and true to hiscause._'"[2]

  "Oh! my noble brother!" cried John De Witt breaking the silence ofadmiration that followed the narrative of Monsieur Tilly. "Often did youmake the remark--_the dark iniquity of the guilty but causes the virtueof the just to shine forth with all the greater luster!_"

  "Yes!" continued Monsieur Tilly. "And at this very moment that beautifulsentiment is approved true. The executioners and judges were seized withrespect and admiration for the grandeur of soul of Cornelius De Witt,and they gazed upon one another in a sort of stupor, as if the absurdityof the hateful process had broken its way into their vision. The judgesconferred. The ignominy of submitting one of the greatest citizens ofthe Republic, one of the victors of Chatham and Solway, to the torture,and upon no stronger grounds than the word of a noted wretch, smotetheir consciences. Even paler than the patient himself, the registrarinformed me, the judges ordered the torture to cease, and, addressingCornelius in a faltering voice said to him: 'So, then, monsieur, youinsist upon making no confession?' 'Save me and yourselves the troubleof such questions,' was Cornelius's answer; 'you have the power toproceed with the torture; my body belongs to you.' Recoiling before thethought of repeating the barbarous act, the judges ordered theexecutioners to untie their victim. Your brother wa
s taken back to hisprison, where the registrar of the States announced to him a few minuteslater the decree that was pronounced upon him. It is as follows:

  "'The court of Holland, having considered and examined the documents,submitted to it by the attorney general of the court, against and inaccusation of Master Cornelius De Witt, former burgomaster of Dortrechtand ruart of the district of Putten, at present a prisoner of the saidcourt, as well as examined him, his confrontations, and all that wassaid by himself, declares the prisoner forfeit of all his offices anddignities, banishes him from the provinces of Holland, never to returnagain under pain of still severer punishment, and sentences him to paythe costs of the trial.'"

  "But this very decree proves the innocence of Cornelius De Witt," criedSalaun Lebrenn. "Devoted Orangemen though the judges are, they haverecoiled before their own iniquity. They did not even dare to mentionthe alleged crime of the prisoner. If the crime were mentioned, thedeath penalty would be the necessary punishment. Oh, the miserable, theinfamous fellows!"

  "You are correct," replied Monsieur Tilly. "After hearing his sentenceread, Cornelius De Witt said to the registrar: 'Monsieur, if I am anassassin I deserve death; if I am innocent I should be set free, and myaccuser punished. I appeal from this sentence to the Supreme Council.''If so, monsieur,' said the registrar, 'be kind enough to formulateyour objection at the foot of the decree and to sign the same.'Cornelius De Witt cast a bitter smile upon the registrar, and raisinghis two hands mutilated by the torture and bandaged in blood-stainedwrappages: 'I can not write, monsieur, I shall dictate to you myobjections to the sentence.' So saying, Cornelius formulated hisobjection in the following terms: 'In the face of God and of man, I mustbe pronounced an assassin or innocent: death or freedom.'"

  "Oh!" cried John De Witt. "I shall devote all the power left to me, allmy life, to seek and obtain the rehabilitation of my brother! I shallnot falter in the task."

  "Do you now understand," asked Tilly, "why I consider that you would belost, without profit to your brother, if you were now to be seen at theprison? The agents of the Prince of Orange quickly spread among the mobthe news of Cornelius's banishment, and stirred up the popular rage athis not having been put to death. These moves have raised the popularexasperation to a still higher pitch, and incited the mob's cravings forvengeance. The crowd has threatened to tear down the gates of the prisonin order to take your brother and do him to death. The registrar havinghastened to notify me of these events, I ordered The Hague cavalry tothe spot. It is now drawn up before the castle. Our horsemen are notOrangemen, as you know; the prison will not be broken in so long as theyare allowed to remain on guard. You see, you may feel at ease, for thepresent, on the fate of Cornelius. I conjure you, my friend, renouncethe purpose of proceeding to the prison. You are known by the wholecity. To cross its streets at this moment of ferment, is uselessly tochallenge the greatest risk. Think of your own dear family."

  "John," added Serdan, "we join Tilly in urging you to flee as soon aspossible. Who knows but that your own house may be invaded at one momentor another by that senselessly furious mob, as your father's house wasinvaded in Dortrecht!"

  "Preserve yourself for your brother's sake, Monsieur De Witt," put inSalaun Lebrenn. "Leave The Hague."

  "Live for this people which is more blind than it is ungrateful. Maybethe day will come when it will implore you to save the Republic!" saidNominoe with tears in his eyes, as he saw John De Witt receive theurgings of his friends with a silent impatience that betrayed his innerresolution to go to his brother.

  Monsieur Tilly made a last effort, crying: "Is it your purpose to riskyour own life, as well as that of Cornelius, by proceeding to theprison?" And answering an impatient wafture of John De Witt's hand, headded: "It is horrible, but it is a fact--the first blood that a mobsheds throws it into a savage intoxication. So far from being allayed byyour death, the hatred of those furious men will then become sounbridled that it will be impossible any longer to restrain them. Theywill then force the prison gates and slaughter your brother!"

  "Enough! Enough, my friend!" said John De Witt with a shudder, andalmost overcome by the insistence of his friends. He seemed to hesitatein his first determination, when he saw Madam De Witt step into theapartment.

  "My friend," said she to her husband handing him a note that she held inher hand, "one of the grenadiers of the prison has just brought you thisletter from our brother Cornelius. It is urgent, says the man. He iswaiting for your answer. He says there is considerable commotion in TheHague, and that, should you wish to proceed to the castle, he offers tolead you through the closed Borlek Alley, and thence to Vivier Alley, ofwhich he has the key. But he says you must not delay."

  John De Witt hastened to take the note, ran his eyes over it, and cried:"My brother writes to me that he wishes to see me immediately."

  "It is a trap!" exclaimed Serdan. "You seem to forget that Cornelius isnot in a condition to write! Crime and treachery!"

  "Why should he not be in a condition to write?" asked Madam De Witt,ignorant of the circumstance that her brother-in-law's hands werecrushed.

  An embarrassing silence followed upon Madam De Witt's question, asilence which Monsieur Tilly broke:

  "Madam, your brother is suffering with an abscess on his thumb. It wouldbe difficult for him to hold a pen."

  "Mary, my cloak, my sword, my gloves; quick, I pray you," said John DeWitt to his wife.

  Madam De Witt left in quest of the articles demanded by her husband. Nosooner had she withdrawn than Tilly, Serdan, Salaun Lebrenn and his soncried in alarm: "Give up the thought! Do not go to the castle! You willbe marching to your death!"

  "The letter is a forgery!" added Serdan. "They are laying a snare foryou, and the jailer is in the plot!"

  "First of all, hear what Cornelius writes to me," said John De Witt tohis friends, and he read:

  "Dear brother, I am obliged to help myself with a stranger's hand to write to you. I urge you earnestly, come to me to the castle without delay. Your presence is indispensable. One of the jailers is devoted to me. He will lead you by a circuitous route, where you are not likely to meet anyone. Come, come."

  "Treachery!" repeated Serdan. "I tell you once more, their purpose is tolead you into a trap, an ambush!"

  "Cornelius has heard from his prison the clamor of the people for hislife, and for yours," added Monsieur Tilly. "There is even fear that themaddened mob may succeed in breaking into the prison, and do you supposethat your brother would call you to his side at such a moment? No, no!There is treachery in all this!"

  "But suppose this letter was truly dictated by my brother!" cried JohnDe Witt, interrupting Tilly. "Suppose that, finding himself about to dieas the result of his torture, he wishes to die in my arms! Suppose heawaits my presence as a supreme consolation! Should I hesitate before asacred duty? No, never!"

  As John De Witt was uttering these last words Madam De Witt re-enteredaccompanied by her two daughters, Agnes and Mary, one thirteen, theother fifteen years of age. They brought their father's cloak and sword.Their candid and smiling faces presented so painful a contrast to thedangers that threatened their father, that the witnesses of the scenefelt their hearts wrung.

  "Father," said Mary, handing John De Witt his cloak, and helping him toput it on, "since you are going to see our dear uncle in that horridprison, that I am sure he will soon be free to leave, tell him for methat, although he was away from us, we always had him in mind."

  "But, better still, father," added Agnes gaily, giving her father hissword, "bring us our dear uncle back soon. And while we wait for hisreturn give him this kiss for me--"

  "And this one from me," said Mary, embracing and kissing her father.

  With a superhuman effort John De Witt controlled and concealed hisafflicted thoughts, tenderly answered the caresses of his daughters bycovering their young foreheads with kisses, and addressing his wife,said: "Adieu, my faithful friend; brave companion in evil days, adieu! Ihope shortly to bring
you better tidings of my brother," and he leftabruptly, followed by Monsieur Tilly, Salaun Lebrenn, his son andMonsieur Serdan.

  "The die is cast!" said Tilly to his friends in a low voice while JohnDe Witt descended the stairs of his house. "Follow him! Guard him! Myhorse is waiting for me near by; I shall rejoin my company. We shalldefend the prison with all our might."

  "Rely upon us," answered Serdan; "all that three resolute men can doshall be done by us. May we be able to save John De Witt, and, with him,the Republic."