Lysbeth, a Tale of the DutchHaggard, H. Rider (Henry Rider)
History
Lysbeth, a Tale of the Dutch
Haggard, H. Rider (Henry Rider)
Netherlands -- History -- House of Habsburg, 1477-1556 -- Fiction
At the entry of the gut the Señor Ramiro landed from his boat. At first
he had thought of killing his companion, so that he might remain the
sole survivor of the catastrophe, but on reflection he abandoned this
idea, as the man was a faithful creature of his own who might be
useful. So he bade him return to The Hague to tell the story of the
destruction of the ship _Swallow_ with the treasure, her attackers and
her crew, whoever they might have been. He was to add, moreover, that
so far as he knew the Captain Ramiro had perished also, as he, the
steersman, was left alone in charge of the boat when the vessel blew
up. Then he was to come to Leyden, bringing with him certain goods and
papers belonging to him, Ramiro.
This plan seemed to have advantages. No one would continue to hunt for
the treasure. No one except himself and perhaps Black Meg would know
that Foy van Goorl and Martin had been on board the _Swallow_ and
escaped; indeed as yet he was not quite sure of it himself. For the
rest he could either lie hidden, or if it proved desirable, announce
that he still lived. Even if his messenger should prove faithless and
tell the truth, it would not greatly matter, seeing that he knew
nothing which could be of service to anybody.
And so the steersman sailed away, while Ramiro, filled with memories,
reflections, and hopes, walked quietly through the Morsch Poort into
the good city of Leyden.
That evening, but not until dark had fallen, two other travellers
entered Leyden, namely, Foy and Martin. Passing unobserved through the
quiet streets, they reached the side door of the house in the Bree
Straat. It was opened by a serving-woman, who told Foy that his mother
was in Adrian’s room, also that Adrian was very much better. So
thither, followed more slowly by Martin, went Foy, running upstairs
three steps at a time, for had he not a great story to tell!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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