Lysbeth, a Tale of the Dutch

by H. Rider Haggard

  Half an hour later, as, resting from their daily labours, Hague Simonand his consort Meg were seated at their evening meal, a knock came atthe door, causing them to drop their knives and to look at each othersuspiciously.

  "Who can it be?" marvelled Meg.

  Simon shook his fat head. "I have no appointment," he murmured, "and Idon't like strange visitors. There's a nasty spirit abroad in the town,a very nasty spirit."

  "Go and see," said Meg.

  "Go and see yourself, you----" and he added an epithet calculated toanger the meekest woman.

  She answered it with an oath and a metal plate, which struck him in theface, but before the quarrel could go farther, again came the sound ofraps, this time louder and more hurried. Then Black Meg went to open thedoor, while Simon took a knife and hid himself behind a curtain. Aftersome whispering, Meg bade the visitor enter, and ushered him into theroom, that same fateful room where the evidence was signed. Now he wasin the light, and she saw him.

  "Oh! come here," she gasped. "Simon, come and look at our littlegrandee." So Simon came, whereon the pair of them, clapping their handsto their ribs, burst into screams of laughter.

  "It's the Don! Mother of Heaven! it is the Don," gurgled Simon.

  Well might they laugh, they who had known Adrian in his pride and richattire, for before them, crouching against the wall, was a miserable,bareheaded object, his hair stained with mud and rotten eggs, bloodrunning from his temple where a stone had caught him, his garments amass of filth and dripping water, one boot gone and his hose burst totatters. For a while the fugitive bore it, then suddenly, without aword, he drew the sword that still remained to him and rushed at thebestial looking Simon, who skipped away round the table.

  "Stop laughing," he said, "or I will put this through you. I am adesperate man."

  "You look it," said Simon, but he laughed no more, for the joke hadbecome risky. "What do you want, Heer Adrian?"

  "I want food and lodging for so long as I please to stop here. Don't beafraid, I have money to pay you."

  "I am thinking that you are a dangerous guest," broke in Meg.

  "I am," replied Adrian; "but I tell you that I shall be more dangerousoutside. I was not the only one concerned in that matter of theevidence, and if they get me they will have you too. You understand?"

  Meg nodded. She understood perfectly; for those of her trade Leyden wasgrowing a risky habitation.

  "We will accommodate you with our best, Mynheer," she said. "Comeupstairs to the Master's room and put on some of his clothes. They willfit you well; you are much of the same figure."

  Adrian's breath caught in his throat.

  "Is he here?" he asked.

  "No, but he keeps his room."

  "Is he coming back?"

  "I suppose so, sometime, as he keeps his room. Do you want to see him?"

  "Very much, but you needn't mention it; my business can wait till wemeet. Get my clothes washed and dried as quickly as you can, will you? Idon't care about wearing other men's garments."

  A quarter of an hour later Adrian, cleaned and clothed, differentindeed to look on from the torn and hunted fugitive, re-entered thesitting-room. As he came, clad in Ramiro's suit, Meg nudged her husbandand whispered, "Like, ain't they?"

  "Like as two devils in hell," Simon answered critically, then added,"Your food is ready; come, Mynheer, and eat."

  So Adrian ate and drank heartily enough, for the meat and wine weregood, and he needed them. Also it rejoiced him in a dull way to findthat there was something left in which he could take pleasure, even ifit were but eating and drinking. When he had finished he told hisstory, or so much of it as he wished to tell, and afterwards went to bedwondering whether his hosts would murder him in his sleep for the purseof gold he carried, half hoping that they might indeed, and slept fortwelve hours without stirring.

  All that day and until the evening of the next Adrian sat in the homeof his spy hosts recovering his strength and brooding over his fearfulfall. Black Meg brought in news of what passed without; thus he learnedthat his mother had sickened with the plague, and that the sentence ofstarvation was being carried out upon the body of her husband, Dirkvan Goorl. He learned also the details of the escape of Foy and Martin,which were the talk of all the city. In the eyes of the common peoplethey had become heroes, and some local poet had made a song about themwhich men were singing in the streets. Two verses of that song weredevoted to him, Adrian; indeed, Black Meg repeated them to him wordby word with a suppressed but malignant joy. Yes, this was what hadhappened; his brother had become a popular hero and he, Adrian, whoin every way was so infinitely that brother's superior, an object ofpopular execration. And of all this the man, Ramiro, was the cause.

  Well, he was waiting for Ramiro. That was why he risked his life bystaying in Leyden. Sooner or later Ramiro would be bound to visit thishaunt of his, and then--here Adrian drew his rapier and lunged andparried, and finally with hissing breath drove it down into the wood ofthe flooring, picturing, in a kind of luxury of the imagination, thatthe throat of Ramiro was between its point and the ground. Of coursein the struggle that must come, the said Ramiro, who doubtless was askilful swordsman, might get the upper hand; it might be his, Adrian'sthroat, which was between the point and the ground. Well, if so, itscarcely mattered; he did not care. At any rate, for this once he wouldplay the man and then let the devil take his own; himself, or Ramiro, orboth of them.

  On the afternoon of the second day Adrian heard shouting in the streets,and Hague Simon came in and told him that a man had arrived with badnews from Mechlin; what it was he could not say, he was going to findout. A couple of hours went by and there was more shouting, this timeof a determined and ordered nature. Then Black Meg appeared and informedhim that the news from Mechlin was that everyone in that unhappy townhad been slain by the Spaniards; that further the people of Leyden hadrisen and were marching to attack the Gevangenhuis. Out she hurriedagain, for when the waters were stormy then Black Meg must go afishing.

  Another hour went by, and once more the street door was opened with akey, to be carefully shut when the visitor had entered.

  Simon or Meg, thought Adrian, but as he could not be sure he took theprecaution of hiding himself behind the curtain. The door of the roomopened, and not Meg or Simon, but Ramiro entered. So his opportunity hadcome!

  The Master seemed disturbed. He sat down upon a chair and wiped his browwith a silk handkerchief. Then aloud, and shaking his fist in the air,he uttered a most comprehensive curse upon everybody and everything, butespecially upon the citizens of Leyden. After this once more he lapsedinto silence, sitting, his one eye fixed upon vacancy, and twisting hiswaxed moustaches with his hand.

  Now was Adrian's chance; he had only to step out from behind the curtainand run him through before he could rise from his seat. The plan hadgreat charms, and doubtless he might have put it into execution had notAdrian's histrionic instincts stayed his hand. If he killed Ramiro thus,he would never know why he had been killed, and above all things Adriandesired that he should know. He wanted not only to wreak his wrongs,but to let his adversary learn why they were wreaked. Also, to do himjustice, he preferred a fair fight to a secret stab delivered frombehind, for gentlemen fought, but assassins stabbed.

  Still, as there were no witnesses, he might have been willing to waivethis point, if only he could make sure that Ramiro should learn thetruth before he died. He thought of springing out and wounding him, andthen, after he had explained matters, finishing him off at his leisure.But how could he be sure of his sword-thrust, which might do too muchor too little? No, come what would, the matter must be concluded in theproper fashion.

  Choosing his opportunity, Adrian stepped from behind the hanging andplaced himself between Ramiro and the door, the bolt of which he shotadroitly that no one might interrupt their interview. At the soundRamiro started and looked up. In an instant he grasped the situation,and though his bronzed face paled, for he knew that his danger wasgreat, rose to it, as might
have been expected from a gentleman of hislong and varied experience.

  "The Heer Adrian called van Goorl, as I live!" he said. "My friend andpupil, I am glad to see you; but, if I might ask, although the times arerough, why in this narrow room do you wave about a naked rapier in thatdangerous fashion?"

  "Villain," answered Adrian, "you know why; you have betrayed me andmine, and I am dishonoured, and now I am going to kill you in payment."

  "I see," said Ramiro, "the van Goorl affair again. I can never be clearof it for half an hour even. Well, before you begin, it may interest youto know that your worthy stepfather, after a couple of days' fasting, isby now, I suppose, free, for the rabble have stormed the Gevangenhuis.Truth, however, compels me to add that he is suffering badly from theplague, which your excellent mother, with a resource that doesher credit, managed to communicate to him, thinking this end lessdisagreeable on the whole than that which the law had appointed."

  Thus spoke Ramiro, slowly and with purpose, for all the while he wasso manoeuvring that the light from the lattice fell full upon hisantagonist, leaving himself in the shadow, a position which experiencetaught him would prove of advantage in emergency.

  Adrian made no answer, but lifted his sword.

  "One moment, young gentleman," went on Ramiro, drawing his own weaponand putting himself on guard; "are you in earnest? Do you really wish tofight?"

  "Yes," answered Adrian.

  "What a fool you must be," mused Ramiro. "Why at your age should youseek to be rid of life, seeing that you have no more chance against methan a rat in a corner against a terrier dog? Look!" and suddenly helunged most viciously straight at his heart. But Adrian was watching andparried the thrust.

  "Ah!" continued Ramiro, "I knew you would do that, otherwise I shouldnot have let fly, for all the angels know I do not wish to hurt you."But to himself he added, "The lad is more dangerous than I thought--mylife hangs on it. The old fault, friend, too high, too high!"

  Then Adrian came at him like a tiger, and for the next thirty secondsnothing was heard in the room but the raspings of steel and the hardbreathing of the two men.

  At first Adrian had somewhat the better of it, for his assault wasfierce, and he forced the older and cooler man to be satisfied withguarding himself. He did more indeed, for presently thrusting overRamiro's guard, he wounded him slightly in the left arm. The stingof his hurt seemed to stir Ramiro's blood; at any rate he changedhis tactics and began to attack in turn. Now, moreover, his skill andseasoned strength came to his aid; slowly but surely Adrian was drivenback before him till his retreat in the narrow confines of the roombecame continuous. Suddenly, half from exhaustion and half because of astumble, he reeled right across it, to the further wall indeed. With aguttural sound of triumph Ramiro sprang after him to make an end of himwhile his guard was down, caught his foot on a joined stool which hadbeen overset in the struggle, and fell prone to the ground.

  This was Adrian's chance. In an instant he was on him and had the pointof his rapier at his throat. But he did not stab at once, not from anycompunction, but because he wished his enemy to feel a little beforehe died, for, like all his race, Adrian could be vindictive andbloodthirsty enough when his hate was roused. Rapidly Ramiro consideredthe position. In a physical sense he was helpless, for Adrian had onefoot upon his breast, the other upon his sword-arm, and the steel at histhroat. Therefore if time were given him he must trust to his wit.

  "Make ready, you are about to die," said Adrian.

  "I think not," replied the prostrate Ramiro.

  "Why not?" asked Adrian, astonished.

  "If you will be so kind as to move that sword-point a little--it ispricking me--thank you. Now I will tell you why. Because it is not usualfor a son to stick his father as though he were a farmyard pig."

  "Son? Father?" said Adrian. "Do you mean----?"

  "Yes, I do mean that we have the happiness of filling those sacredrelationships to each other."

  "You lie," said Adrian.

  "Let me stand up and give me my sword, young sir, and you shall pay forthat. Never yet did a man tell the Count Juan de Montalvo that he lied,and live."

  "Prove it," said Adrian.

  "In this position, to which misfortune, not skill, has reduced me, I canprove nothing. But if you doubt it, ask your mother, or your hosts, orconsult the registers of the Groote Kerke, and see whether on a date,which I will give you, Juan de Montalvo was, or was not, married toLysbeth van Hout, of which marriage was born one Adrian. Man, I willprove it to you. Had I not been your father, would you have been savedfrom the Inquisition with others, and should I not within the last fiveminutes had run you through twice over, for though you fought well, yourswordsmanship is no match for mine?"

  "Even if you are my father, why should I not kill you, who have forcedme to your will by threats of death, you who wronged and shamed me, youbecause of whom I have been hunted through the streets like a mad dog,and made an outcast?" And Adrian looked so fierce, and brought down hissword so close, that hope sank very low in Ramiro's heart.

  "There are reasons which might occur to the religious," he said, "butI will give you one that will appeal to your own self-interest. If youkill me, the curse which follows the parricide will follow you to yourlast hour--of the beyond I say nothing."

  "It would need to be a heavy one," answered Adrian, "if it was worsethan that of which I know." But there was hesitation in his voice,for Ramiro, the skilful player upon human hearts, had struck the rightstring, and Adrian's superstitious nature answered to the note.

  "Son," went on Ramiro, "be wise and hold your hand before you do thatfor which all hell itself would cry shame upon you. You think that Ihave been your enemy, but it is not so; all this while I have strivento work you good, but how can I talk lying thus like a calf before itsbutcher? Take the swords, both of them, and let me sit up, and I willtell you all my plans for the advantage of us both. Or if you wish it,thrust on and make an end. I will not plead for my life with you; it isnot worthy of an hidalgo of Spain. Moreover, what is life to me who haveknown so many sorrows that I should seek to cling to it? Oh! God,who seest all, receive my soul, and I pray Thee pardon this youth hishorrible crime, for he is mad and foolish, and will live to sorrow forthe deed."

  Since it was no further use to him, Ramiro had let the sword fall fromhis hand. Drawing it towards him with the point of his own weapon,Adrian stooped and picked it up.

  "Rise," he said, lifting his foot, "I can kill you afterwards if Iwish."

  Could he have looked into the heart of his new-found parent as stiff andaching he staggered to his feet, the execution would not have been longdelayed.

  "Oh! my young friend, you have given me a nasty fright," thought Ramiroto himself, "but it is over now, and if I don't pay you out before Ihave done with you, my sweet boy, your name is not Adrian."

  Ramiro rose, dusted his garments, seated himself deliberately, and beganto talk with great earnestness. It will be sufficient to summarisehis arguments. First of all, with the most convincing sincerity, heexplained that when he had made use of him, Adrian, he had no idea thathe was his son. Of course this was a statement that will not bear amoment's examination, but Ramiro's object was to gain time, and Adrianlet it pass. Then he explained that it was only after his mother had,not by his wish, but accidentally, seen the written evidence upon whichher husband was convicted, that he found out that Adrian van Goorl washer child and his own. However, as he hurried to point out, all thesethings were now ancient history that had no bearing on the present.Owing to the turbulent violence of the mob, which had driven him fromhis post and fortress, he, Ramiro, was in temporary difficulties, andowing to other circumstances, he, Adrian, was, so far as his own partyand people were concerned, an absolutely dishonoured person. In thisstate of affairs he had a suggestion to make. Let them join forces; letthe natural relationship that existed between them, and which had beenso nearly severed by a sword thrust that both must have regretted,become real and tender. He, the father, had rank
, although it suitedhim to sink it; he had wide experience, friends, intelligence, and theprospect of enormous wealth, which, of course, he could not expect toenjoy for ever. On the other side, he, the son, had youth, great beautyof person, agreeable and distinguished manners, a high heart, theeducation of a young man of the world, ambition and powers of mind thatwould carry him far, and for the immediate future an object to gain,the affection of a lady whom all acknowledged to be as good as she wascharming, and as charming as she was personally attractive.

  "She hates me," broke in Adrian.

  "Ah!" laughed Ramiro, "there speaks the voice of small experience. Oh!youth, so easily exalted and so easily depressed! Joyous, chequeredyouth! How many happy marriages have I not known begin with such hateas this? Well, there it is, you must take my word for it. If you wantto marry Elsa Brant, I can manage it for you, and if not, why, you canleave it alone."

  Adrian reflected, then as his mind had a practical side, he put aquestion.

  "You spoke of the prospect of enormous wealth; what is it?"

  "I will tell you, I will tell you," whispered his parent, looking abouthim cautiously; "it is the vast hoard of Hendrik Brant which I intendto recover; indeed, my search for it has been at the root of all thistrouble. And now, son, you can see how open I have been with you, for ifyou marry Elsa that money will legally be your property, and I can onlyclaim whatever it may please you to give me. Well, as to that question,in the spirit of the glorious motto of our race, 'Trust to God and me,'I shall leave it to your sense of honour, which, whatever its troubles,has never yet failed the house of Montalvo. What does it matter tome who is the legal owner of the stuff, so long as it remains in thefamily?"

  "Of course not," replied Adrian, loftily, "especially as I am notmercenary."

  "Ah! well," went on Ramiro, "we have talked for a long while, and if Icontinue to live there are affairs to which I ought to attend. You haveheard all I have to say, and you have the swords in your hand, and, ofcourse, I am--only your prisoner on parole. So now, my son, be so goodas to settle this matter without further delay. Only, if you make upyour mind to use the steel, allow me to show you where to thrust, as Ido not wish to undergo any unnecessary discomfort"--and he stood beforehim and bowed in a very courtly and dignified fashion.

  Adrian looked at him and hesitated. "I don't trust you," he said; "youhave tricked me once and I daresay that you will trick me again. Also Idon't think much of people who masquerade under false names and lay suchtraps as you laid to get my evidence against the rest of them. But I amin a bad place and without friends. I want to marry Elsa and recover myposition in the world; also, as you know well, I can't cut the throat ofmy own father in cold blood," and he threw down one of the swords.

  "Your decision is just such as I would have expected from my knowledgeof your noble nature, son Adrian," remarked Ramiro as he picked up hisweapon and restored it to the scabbard. "But now, before we enter uponthis perfect accord, I have two little stipulations to make on my side."

  "What are they?" asked Adrian.

  "First, that our friendship should be complete, such as ought to existbetween a loving father and son, a friendship without reservations.Secondly--this is a condition that I fear you may find harder--but,although fortune has led me into stony paths, and I fear some doubtfulexpedients, there was always one thing which I have striven to cherishand keep pure, and that in turn has rewarded me for my devotion in manya dangerous hour, my religious belief. Now I am Catholic, and I couldwish that my son should be Catholic also; these horrible errors, believeme, are as dangerous to the soul as just now they happen to be fatalto the body. May I hope that you, who were brought up but not born inheresy, will consent to receive instruction in the right faith?"

  "Certainly you may," answered Adrian, almost with enthusiasm. "I havehad enough of conventicles, psalm-singing, and the daily chance of beingburned; indeed, from the time when I could think for myself I alwayswished to be a Catholic."

  "Your words make me a happy man," answered Ramiro. "Allow me to unboltthe door, I hear our hosts. Worthy Simon and Vrouw, I make you partiesto a solemn and joyful celebration. This young man is my son, and intoken of my fatherly love, which he has been pleased to desire, I nowtake him in my arms and embrace him before you," and he suited theaction to the word.

  But Black Meg, watching his face in astonishment from over Adrian'sshoulder, saw its one bright eye suddenly become eclipsed. Could it bethat the noble Master had winked?