"Pshaw! the packhorses of Berne and Soleure," said the Governor, "with their paltry lumber, cloth too coarse to make covers for horses of any breeding, and linen that is more like hair-cloth than any composition of flax. I will strip them, however, were it but to vex the knaves. What! not content with claiming to be treated like an independent people, and sending forth deputies and embassies forsooth, they expect, I warrant, to make the indemnities of ambassadors cover the introduction of a cargo of their contraband commodities, and thus insult the noble Duke of Burgundy, and cheat him at the same time? But De Hagenbach is neither knight nor gentleman if he allow them to pass unchallenged." "And they are better worth being stopped," said Kilian, "than your excellency supposes; for they have English merchants along with them, and under their protection." "English merchants!" exclaimed De Hagenbach, his eyes sparkling with joy; "English merchants, Kilian! Men talk of Cathay and Ind, where there are mines of silver, and gold, and diamonds; but, on the faith of a gentleman, I believe these brutish Islanders have the caves of treasure wholly within their own foggy land! And then the variety of their rich merchandise,--Ha, Kilian! is it a long train of mules--a jolly tinkling team?--By Our Lady's glove! the sound of it is already jingling in my ears, more musically than all the harps of all the minne-singers at Heilbron!" "Nay, my lord, there is no great train," replied the squire;--"only two men, as I am given to understand, with scarce so much baggage as loads a mule; but, it is said, of infinite value, silk and samite, lace and furs, pearls and jewellery-work--perfumes from the East, and gold-work from Venice." "Raptures and paradise! say not a word more," exclaimed the rapacious knight of Hagenbach; "they are all our own, Kilian! Why, these are the very men I have dreamed of twice a week for this month past--ay, two men of middle stature, or somewhat under it--with smooth, round, fair, comely visages, having stomachs as plump as partridges, and purses as plump as their stomachs--Ha, what say'st thou to my dream, Kilian?" "Only, that, to be quite soothfast," answered the squire, "it should have included the presence of a score, or thereabouts, of sturdy young giants as ever climbed cliff, or carried bolt to whistle at a chamois--a lusty plump of clubs, bills, and partisans, such as make shields crack like oaten cakes, and helmets ring like church-bells." "The better, knave, the better!" exclaimed the Governor, rubbing his hands. "English pedlars to plunder! Swiss bullies to beat into submission! I wot well, we can have nothing of the Helvetian swine save their beastly bristles--it is lucky they bring these two island sheep along with them. But we must get ready our boar-spears, and clear the clipping-pens for exercise of our craft.--Here, Lieutenant Schonfeldt!" An officer stepped forth. "How many men are here on duty?"