And as he spoke, he pointed with his finger at Josse Grypstuiver, the Dean of the Fishmongers, who showed his ugly phiz in the crowd of people. And the fishmonger gave an evil smile when he saw Claes betraying himself in this way. And the people in the crowd, men, women, and maids, looked one at the other and said: "Poor good man, his words will be the death of him without a doubt." But the clerk continued his depositions. "Claes and the heretic stayed talking together for a long time that night, and so for six other nights, during which time the stranger was seen to make many gestures of menace or of benediction, and to lift up his hands to heaven as do his fellow-heretics. And Claes appeared to approve of what he said. And there is no doubt that throughout these days and nights they were speaking together opprobriously of the Mass, of the confessional, of indulgences, and of the Royal Majesty...." "No one heard it," said Claes, "and I cannot be accused in this way without any evidence." The clerk answered: "There is something else that was overheard. The evening that the stranger left your roof, seven days after he had first come to you, you went with him as far as the end of Katheline's field. There he asked you what you had done with the wicked idols"--here the bailiff crossed himself--"of Madame the Virgin, and of St. Nicholas and St. Martin. You replied that you had broken them all up and thrown them into the well. They were, in fact, found in the well last night, and the pieces are now in the torture-chamber." At these words Claes appeared to be quite overcome. The bailiff asked if he had nothing to answer. Claes made a sign with his head in the negative. The bailiff asked him if he would not recant the accursed thoughts which had led him to break the images, and the impious delusion whereby he had spoken such evil words against Pope and Emperor, who were both divine personages. Claes replied that his body was the Emperor's, but that his soul was Christ's, whose law he desired to obey. The bailiff asked him if this law were the same as that of Holy Mother Church. Claes answered: "The law of Christ is written in the Holy Gospel." When ordered to answer the question as to whether the Pope is the representative of God on earth, he answered, "No." When asked if he believed that it was forbidden to adore images of Our Lady and of the saints, he replied that such was idolatry. Questioned as to whether the practice of auricular confession was a good and salutary thing, he answered: "Christ said, confess your sins one to another." He spoke out bravely, though at the same time it was evident that he was ill at ease and in his heart afraid. At length, eight o'clock having sounded and evening coming on, the members of the tribunal retired, deferring their judgment until the morrow. XL