Wilhelmina made no reply.

“For your father, my dearest girl, there is no fear:  he will be fully acquitted; but I, Wilhelmina, must depart immediately, or my life is forfeited.”

“Leave me, Edward?” replied Wilhelmina.

“No, you must go with me, Wilhelmina, for more than one reason; the government have ordered the seizure of the persons to be made in the night, to avoid a disturbance; but that they will not be able to prevent; the mob are but too happy to prove their loyalty, when they can do so by rapine and plunder, and depend upon it that this house will be sacked and levelled to the ground before to-morrow evening.  You cannot go to prison with your father; you cannot remain here, to be at the mercy of an infuriated and lawless mob.  You must go with me, Wilhelmina; trust to me, not only for my sake, but for your father’s.”

“My father’s, Edward, it is that only I am thinking of; how can I leave my father at such a time?”

“You will save your father by so doing.  Your departure with me will substantiate his innocence; decide, my dearest girl; decide at once; you must either fly with me, or we must part for ever.”

“Oh no, that must not be, Edward,” cried Wilhelmina, bursting into tears.

After some further persuasions on the part of Ramsay, and fresh tears from the attached maiden, it was agreed that she should act upon his suggestions, and with a throbbing heart, she went to her chamber to make the necessary preparations, while Ramsay requested that Mynheer Krause would give him a few minutes of his company in his room above.

The syndic soon made his appearance; “Well, Mynheer Ramsay, you have some news to tell me, I am sure;” for Mynheer Krause, notwithstanding his rebuff from the king, could not divest himself of his failing of fetching and carrying reports.  Ramsay went to the door and turned the key.

“I have, indeed, most important news, Mynheer Krause, and, I am sorry to say, very unpleasant also.”

“Indeed,” replied the syndic, with alarm.

“Yes; I find from a notice given me by one of his Majesty’s council, assembled this morning at the Hague, that you are suspected of treasonable practices.”

“God in heaven!” exclaimed the syndic.

“And that this very night you are to be seized and thrown into prison.”

“I, the syndic of the town!  I, who put everybody else into prison!”

“Even so; such is the gratitude of King William for your long and faithful services, Mynheer Krause!  I have now sent for you, that we may consult as to what had best be done.  Will you fly?  I have the means for your escape.”

“Fly, Mynheer Ramsay; the syndic of Amsterdam fly?  Never! they may accuse me falsely; they may condemn me and take off my head before the Stadt House, but I will not fly.”

“I expected this answer; and you are right, Mynheer Krause; but there are other considerations worthy of your attention.  When the populace know you are in prison for treason, they will level this house to the ground.”