Ghysbrecht Van Swieten was an artful man. He opened on the novice with
something quite wide of the mark he was really aiming at. “The town
records,” said he, “are crabbedly written, and the ink rusty with age.”
He offered Gerard the honour of transcribing them fair.
Gerard inquired what he was to be paid.
Ghysbrecht offered a sum that would have just purchased the pens, ink,
and parchment.
“But, burgomaster, my labour? Here is a year's work.”
“Your labour? Call you marking parchment labour? Little sweat goes to
that, I trow.”
“'Tis labour, and skilled labour to boot; and that is better paid in all
crafts than rude labour, sweat or no sweat. Besides, there's my time.”
“Your time? Why, what is time to you, at two-and-twenty?” Then fixing
his eyes keenly on Gerard, to mark the effect of his words, he said:
“Say, rather, you are idle grown. You are in love. Your body is with
these chanting monks, but your heart is with Peter Brandt and his
red-haired girl.”
“I know no Peter Brandt.”
This denial confirmed Ghysbrecht's suspicion that the caster-out of
demons was playing a deep game.
“Ye lie!” he shouted. “Did I not find you at her elbow on the road to
Rotterdam?”
“Ah!”
“Ah! And you were seen at Sevenbergen but t'other day.”
“Was I?'
“Ah and at Peter's house.”
“At Sevenbergen?”
“Ay, at Sevenbergen.”
Now, this was what in modern days is called a draw. It was a guess, put
boldly forth as fact, to elicit by the young man's answer whether he had
been there lately or not.
The result of the artifice surprised the crafty one. Gerard started up
in a strange state of nervous excitement.
“Burgomaster,” said he, with trembling voice, “I have not been at
Sevenbergen these three years, and I know not the name of those you saw
me with, nor where they dwelt; but, as my time is precious, though
you value it not, give you good day.” And he darted out, with his eyes
sparkling.
Ghysbrecht started up in huge ire; but he sank into his chair again.
“He fears me not. He knows something, if not all.”
Then he called hastily to his trusty servant, and almost dragged him to
a window.
“See you yon man?” he cried. “Haste! follow him! But let him not see
you. He is young, but old in craft. Keep him in sight all day. Let me
know whither he goes, and what he does.”
It was night when the servant returned.
“Well? well?” cried Van Swieten eagerly.
“Master, the young man went from you to Sevenbergen.”
Ghysbrecht groaned.
“To the house of Peter the Magician.”