“I know no Peter Brandt.” This denial confirmed Ghysbrecht's suspicion that the caster-out of demons was playing a deep game. “Ye lie!” he shouted. “Did I not find you at her elbow on the road to Rotterdam?” “Ah!” “Ah! And you were seen at Sevenbergen but t'other day.” “Was I?' “Ah and at Peter's house.” “At Sevenbergen?” “Ay, at Sevenbergen.” Now, this was what in modern days is called a draw. It was a guess, put boldly forth as fact, to elicit by the young man's answer whether he had been there lately or not. The result of the artifice surprised the crafty one. Gerard started up in a strange state of nervous excitement. “Burgomaster,” said he, with trembling voice, “I have not been at Sevenbergen these three years, and I know not the name of those you saw me with, nor where they dwelt; but, as my time is precious, though you value it not, give you good day.” And he darted out, with his eyes sparkling. Ghysbrecht started up in huge ire; but he sank into his chair again. “He fears me not. He knows something, if not all.” Then he called hastily to his trusty servant, and almost dragged him to a window. “See you yon man?” he cried. “Haste! follow him! But let him not see you. He is young, but old in craft. Keep him in sight all day. Let me know whither he goes, and what he does.” It was night when the servant returned. “Well? well?” cried Van Swieten eagerly. “Master, the young man went from you to Sevenbergen.” Ghysbrecht groaned. “To the house of Peter the Magician.” CHAPTER VI “Look into your own heart and write!” said Herr Cant; and earth's cuckoos echoed the cry. Look into the Rhine where it is deepest, and the Thames where it is thickest, and paint the bottom. Lower a bucket into a well of self-deception, and what comes up must be immortal truth, mustn't it? Now, in the first place, no son of Adam ever reads his own heart at all, except by the habit acquired, and the light gained, from some years perusal of other hearts; and even then, with his acquired sagacity and reflected light, he can but spell and decipher his own heart, not read it fluently. Half way to Sevenbergen Gerard looked into his own heart, and asked it why he was going to Sevenbergen. His heart replied without a moment's hesitation, “We are going out of curiosity to know why she jilted us, and to show her it has not broken our hearts, and that we are quite content with our honours and our benefice in prospectu, and don't want her nor ally of her fickle sex.”