"Sangue de--Vanderdecken! the husband? Corpo del Diavolo--is it possible?" cried the Commandant, panting for breath, as he seized his long sword with both hands, and clenched it with fury--"What then, I have been deceived, cajoled, laughed at!" Then, after a pause--the veins of his forehead distending so as almost to burst--he continued, with a suppressed voice, "Most noble sir, I thank you; but now it is my turn.--What, ho! there! Corporal--men, here instantly--quick!" Philip and Krantz felt convinced that all denial was useless. Philip folded his arms and made no reply. Krantz merely observed, "A little reflection will prove to you, sir, that this indignation is not warranted." "Not warranted!" rejoined the Commandant with a sneer; "you have deceived me; but you are caught in your own trap. I have the paper signed, which I shall not fail to make use of. _You_ are dead, you know, captain; I have your own hand to it, and your wife will be glad to believe it." "She has deceived you, Commandant, to get out of your power, nothing more," said Vanderdecken. "She would spurn a contemptible withered wretch like yourself, were she as free as the wind." "Go on, go on; it will be my turn soon. Corporal, throw these two men into the dungeon: a sentry at the door till further orders. Away with them. Most noble sir, perhaps your influential friends in Holland and Spain will enable you to get out again." Philip and Krantz were led away by the soldiers, who were very much surprised at this change of treatment. Schriften followed them; and as they walked across the rampart to the stairs which led to their prison, Krantz, in his fury, burst from the soldiers, and bestowed a kick upon Schriften which sent him several feet forward on his face. "That was a good one--he! he!" cried Schriften, smiling and looking at Krantz as he regained his legs. There was an eye, however, which met theirs with an intelligent glance, as they descended the stairs to the dungeon. It was that of the soldier Pedro. It told them that there was one friend upon whom they could rely, and who would spare no endeavour to assist them in their new difficulty. It was a consolation to them both; a ray of hope which cheered them as they once more descended the narrow steps, and heard the heavy key turned which again secured them in their dungeon. Chapter XXXIII "Thus are all our hopes wrecked," said Philip, mournfully; "what chance have we now of escaping from this little tyrant?" "Chances turn up," replied Krantz; "at present, the prospect is not very cheering. Let us hope for the best." "I have an idea in my head which may probably be turned to some account," added Krantz; "as soon as the little man's fury is over." "Which is--" "That, much as he likes your wife, there is something which he likes quite as well--money. Now, as we know where all the treasure is concealed, I think he may be tempted to offer us our liberty, if we were to promise to put it into his possession."