Fletcher! I remembered that name. He was the person who had sent to Captain Tew the buttons that I now had in my pocket. The toast was drunk enthusiastically. Then someone sprang upon a chair and began to beat time; the company followed his example and soon they were all singing this song which they accompanied boisterously with the jingle of mugs and the clatter of feet: “Hi! Ho! Kirstoffel’s brew, Gi' good den to Kilian’s crew; Klink the can, Let every man Drink to Van Volkenberg.” At the last word the tall speaker bowed right and left, whereby I knew he was the patroon. I felt in my pocket for the silver buttons and, taking one of them in the hollow of my hand with my fingers closed over so as to conceal it till the proper moment, I rose to approach the patroon. This act drew all eyes upon me. There was the same ominous silence as before, accompanied now, however, with ten times the contempt and anger shown at my first entrance. The ill feeling against me was so evident and, so far as I knew, so without cause, that I was fairly nonplussed. No one spoke. The only sounds were the ticking of the tall clock in the corner and a few taps of Van Volkenberg’s cane upon the floor. He likewise seemed to share the general resentment against me. “Mynher,” said I, as yet holding the button in my hand. “I came to ask——” “Ask nothing of me, villain.” “Ay, he is a villain,” chorused several voices. “Mynher,” I began again, astonished at this reception from a perfect stranger. “Not a word, wretch, not a word to me. I have no dealings with vagabonds, scum of the streets. If you have anything to say, go talk to my dogs. Zounds! Away! Out of my sight!” I was about to expostulate, having no idea whatever how to account for this sudden burst of anger, but he raised his cane to strike me. Then I noticed a narrow band of red cloth about his left arm just beyond the elbow. “Hush, Kilian,” said the companion who had entered with him. “Do not anger yourself.” “Pish! May I not strike a dog?” “’Tis not for him but for yourself. Beware, Kilian.” The patroon was visibly affected by this rejoinder and made an effort to control himself. “You say you don’t understand what I mean?” he continued in disdain, for he had given me a chance to profess myself ignorant of offense. “Have you not stood against my men? Have you not drawn your sword against the Red Band? Bah, dog! You shall know what it is to kill the men of the Red Band. You shall hang for this if there is a law left in the province.” He had begun this speech with a measure of self-control. But as the words followed one upon another, he spoke quicker and quicker, and with more and more anger, till he had worked himself to such a height of passion that his friend interfered a second time.