"I must request you to dress and come along with me directly to the Stadt House," replied the officer, very civilly. "Gott in himmel! what's the matter?" "It's on a charge of treasonable practices, madam." "Oh, ho! I see: Mr Vanslyperken. Very well, good sir; I'll put on my clothes directly. I'll get up any hour in the night, with pleasure, to bring that villain--. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see. Babette, take the gentleman down in the parlour, and give them some bottled beer. You'll find it very good, sirs; it's of my own brewing. And Babette, you must come up and help me." The officer did not think it necessary to undeceive the widow, who imagined that she was to give evidence against Vanslyperken, not that she was a prisoner herself. Still, the widow Vandersloosh did not like being called up at such an unseasonable hour, and thus expressed herself to Babette as she was dressing herself. "Well, we shall see the ending of this, Babette.--My under petticoat is on the chair.--I told the lords the whole truth, every word of it; and I am convinced that they believed me, too.--Don't pull tight all at once, Babette; how often do I tell you that. I do believe you missed a hole.--The cunning villain goes there and says that I--yes, Babette--that I was a traitor myself; and I said to the lords, 'Do I look like a traitor?'--My petticoats, Babette; how stupid you are, why, your eyes are half shut now; you know I always wear the blue first, then the green, and the red last, and yet you will give me the first which comes.--He's a handsome lord, that Duke of Portland; he was one of the _bon_--before King William went over and conquered England, and he was made a lord for his valour.--My ruff, Babette. The Dutch are a brave nation.--My bustle now.--How much beer did you give the officers? Mind you take care of everything while I am gone. I shall be home by nine, I dare say. I suppose they are going to try him now, that he may be hanged at sunrise. I knew how it would be. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, every dog has his day; and there's an end of you, and of your cur also, I've a notion." The widow being now duly equipped, walked down stairs to them, and proceeded with the officers to the Stadt House. She was brought into the presence of Mynheer Engelback, who held the office of provost. "Here is the widow Vandersloosh, mynheer." "Very well," replied Engelback, who was in a very bad humour at the unsuccessful search after the conspirators, "away with her." "Away! where?" exclaimed the widow. Engelback did not condescend to make a reply. The officers were mute; but one stout man on either side seized her arm and led her away, notwithstanding expostulation, and some resistance on her part. "Where am I going? what is all this?" exclaimed the, widow, terrified; but there was no answer.