“This is corroborative of my suspicions,” said Lord Albemarle, putting down the papers before the Duke of Portland.

The duke read the letter and examined the enclosures.

“Shall we see the king to-night?”

“No, he is retired, and it is of no use, they are in prison by this time; we will wait the report to-morrow morning—­ascertain how many have been secured—­and then lay these documents before his Majesty.”

Leaving the two noble lords to go to bed, we shall now return to Amsterdam at twelve o’clock at night precisely; as the bell tolled, a loud knock was heard at the syndic’s house.  Koop, who had been ordered by his master to remain up, immediately opened the door, and a posse comitatus of civil power filled the yard.

“Where is Mynheer Krause?” inquired the chief in authority.

“Mynheer, the syndic, is upstairs in the saloon.”

Without sending up his name, the officer went up, followed by three or four others, and found Mynheer Krause smoking his pipe.

“Ah, my very particular friend, Mynheer Engelback, what brings you here at this late hour with all your people?  Is there a fire in the town?”

“No, Mynheer Syndic.  It is an order I am very sorry to say to arrest you, and conduct you to prison.”

“Arrest and conduct me to prison—­me the syndic of the town—­that is strange—­will you allow me to see your warrant—­yes, it is all true and countersigned by his Majesty; I have no more to say, Mynheer Engelback.  As syndic of this town, and administrator of the laws, it is my duty to set the example of obedience to them, at the same time protesting my entire innocence.  Koop, get me my mantle.  Mynheer Engelback, I claim to be treated with the respect due to me, as syndic of this town.”

The officers were not a little staggered at the coolness and sang froid of Mynheer Krause, he had never appeared to so much advantage; they bowed respectfully as he finished his speech.

“I believe, Mynheer Krause, that you have some friends staying with you?”

“I have no friend in the house except my very particular friend, Mynheer Engelback,” replied the syndic.

“You must excuse us, but we must search the house.”

“You have his Majesty’s warrant so to do, and no excuse is necessary.”

After a diligent search of half an hour, nobody was found in the house, and the officers began to suspect that the government had been imposed upon.  Mynheer Krause, with every mark of attention and respect, was then walked off to the Hotel de Ville, where he remained in custody, for it was not considered right by the authorities, that the syndic should be thrown into the common prison upon suspicion only.  When he arrived there, Mynheer Krause surprised them all by the philosophy with which he smoked his pipe.