THE SECRET OUT
Dr. De Witt flew to Vrouw Voorhaas's assistance, pushing the stranger
unceremoniously aside in his haste. For a moment no one spoke while he
busied himself over the sick woman. Then he turned to the intruder,
sternly inquiring:
"Who art thou, and why art thou here?" The man pulled off his cap
ornamented with the Beggar's crescent, and drew himself up to face the
physician.
"I am Dr. Cornellisen," he said, "and I have come to claim my children!"
Struck dumb with amazement and incredulity, not a soul moved. Then De
Witt advanced a step and stuttered:
"But--b-b-but--Dr. Cornellisen is dead!"
"No, he is not dead!" answered the stranger. "He never died--but there
was excellent reason why he should be considered so. Come, children!
will you not kiss your father?" And he held out his arms to the two.
Then the spell was broken. Doubting no longer, Jacqueline and Gysbert
rushed into his embrace, while Jan blubbered in his joy like a great
baby, and Dr. de Witt tore around the room, alternately laughing and
crying, and trying to shake hands with Jan. The confusion lasted many
minutes, during which time Vrouw Voorhaas came unassisted to her senses,
and smiled understandingly on the scene.
"Oh, my boy and girl!" said the father at last. "God has brought us
through many strange trials and vicissitudes to the happiness of this
meeting! But now, if it pleases Him, we shall never part again."
"But father," answered Jacqueline, "we can scarcely yet realize that
thou art our father, so much dost thou seem like one risen from the
dead! Wilt thou not tell us the whole story?"
"I will indeed, daughter, and right here and now, since it must seem
passing strange to you all." They sat down to listen breathlessly, while
Dr. Cornellisen began his story. As the tale unfolded, it revealed many
things to them that had long been hidden in mystery.
"Jacqueline here must remember," he commenced, "the time when I
mysteriously disappeared six year ago. And so must thou, Dr. de Witt,
for now I recognize thy face, and thank thee for thy devotion to me and
mine. Well, as you all know, the young Count de Buren was cunningly
enticed away from the University of Louvain by King Philip's orders, to
be taken to Spain and either killed outright, or kept as a hostage. He
was only a boy of thirteen, and they flattered and cajoled him with fine
promises. Count de Chassy had been sent from Spain with a retinue,
under the pretext of escorting the young Count on a visit to His Majesty
Philip II.
"The boy was under my special care, and I counselled him strongly not to
accept these doubtful honors. But the child was uncontrollable in his
desire to have his own way, and before I could get word to the Prince of
Orange, the start was made. Young De Buren was to travel in state,
though secretly. He had a retinue of two pages, two valets, a cook and
an accountant, and moreover insisted that I should go with him as a
personal companion. I was nothing loath to do so, for I thought I might
thus be able to shield him from harm. My presence, however, was not
relished by the Spanish envoys, but at first they thought it best not to
oppose the boy's wish.
"We reached the borders of Spain, and camped one night in a little
mountain village. As the evening was fine, I determined to take a short
stroll before retiring. On reaching a lonely spot, I was set upon by a
masked man, overpowered, stabbed in the ribs, dragged into the bushes
and left for dead. I know now that my assailant was Dirk Willumhoog, and
that he had been hired to kill me!" At this familiar name the children
gasped.
"Next morning the calvacade passed on without me, telling the boy I had
left in the night to return to Louvain. But Dirk's thrust had not quite
reached its mark! I was picked up next day by some kind-hearted
peasants, carefully tended for weeks, and at last was as well as ever. I
was of course, perfectly unknown to them and remained so. In the
meantime I had decided on a plan. I communicated with Vrouw Voorhaas,
told her to sell the house, take you children and go to live in Leyden.
She was to carefully conceal the fact that I was alive, and bring you
children up in her good care till I should return. I knew that you would
be more than safe in her excellent keeping, but I never dreamed that my
term of absence would be so long.
"At the same time I wrote to the Prince of Orange, who was almost
distracted for the safety of his son. I told him what had happened, and
also that I intended to disguise myself as a Dutch malcontent or Glipper
under the name of Dr. Leonidus Graafzoon, and obtain entrance to the
court of Spain. There I could remain for a time, and watch over the
fortunes of the young boy, so cruelly enticed into the midst of his
father's enemies. The Prince wrote back that by so doing I would earn
his eternal gratitude, and procured me letters of introduction to the
Spanish court, under my assumed name.
"There I remained for five years, carefully guarding the safety of the
count. At the end of that time, however, it became apparent that they
contemplated no harm toward young De Buren. He was systematically
well-treated, carefully educated, and seemed rather to like his new
surroundings than otherwise. I had of course, been most anxious to be
reunited with my family, and begged the Prince to free me from my duties
and allow me to join you. He gave a hearty and gracious consent, and I
began my preparations to return to Leyden when the news of the siege
reached me, and I knew that great and imminent danger threatened you. I
left Spain, as I learned later, not a day too soon for my old enemy Dirk
Willumhoog had in some way discovered my secret, unearthed all my past
history, and was hot upon a little scheme of his own.
"Vrouw Voorhaas sent me word,--it was the last I heard from her,--that a
man whom she described as Dirk, called on her one day when you both were
out, informed her that he knew her secret and who you children were and
all about me. Then he tried to bribe her to give you up to him, offering
a good round sum in gold. When she refused he threatened to get
possession of you in some other way. She was wild with anxiety for your
safety, and begged me to hasten to Leyden without delay. But by the time
I reached Holland the siege was in full progress, and all thought of
access to the city was hopeless. Having thus a double reason for serving
the city, I went to Zeeland and joined the Sea Beggars. I fought all the
way to Leyden on the '_Ark of Delft_,' and have been frequently almost
prostrated by the alternations of hope and despair. But I am here, we
are reunited,--and now you know my story!"
"Yes," said Jacqueline with a long-drawn breath, "but I still do not see
why Dirk wished to get possession of Gysbert and myself."
"Why! dost thou not comprehend!--" interrupted the boy. "He wanted to
hold us for a ransom, well knowing father would pay any price to have us
back. Dost thou not remember how we overheard him telling Vrouw
Hansleer that we would surely mean more money to them? And that is why
they were so careful of us too!"
"Yes," said Dr. Cornellisen, "that is what he wanted with you. But now I
must hear your story too. How came Vrouw Voorhaas to think she had lost
you?" The children recounted their adventures, first one and then the
other interrupting in a breathless, excited fashion. At last Gysbert
ended with the recital of the singular adventure of the night before,
and the terrible falling of the wall, just after Dirk Willumhoog had
entered the breach.
"It doubtless became his tomb," remarked Dr. Cornellisen thoughtfully,
"and a terrible ending indeed,--too terrible to linger over!"
"No, no!" interrupted old Jan eagerly. "It was but just,--just! Was he
not about to betray the city for filthy Spanish gold, and does it not
fulfil every word of that verse from the Scriptures,--'In the snare
which the wicked hath set is his own foot taken!'"
"The Bible says also,--'Judge not that ye be not judged!'" said Dr.
Cornellisen quietly. "So we will leave Dirk Willumhoog forever, as he
has gone to face his sentence in a higher court than any human one."
Presently Dr. de Witt made a sign to old Jan, and the two crept quietly
out together, leaving the happy family alone for a while in their new
joy of glad reunion.
THE GREAT DAY