“Will your highness give full directions? we wait for them,” said he.

“You have eight vessels, without counting the admiral’s ship, have you not, M. de Joyeuse?”

“Yes, monseigneur.”

“You will force the line; the thing will be easy, the Antwerpians have only merchant vessels in the port; then you will bring them to bear upon the fort.  Then, if the quay is defended, you will attempt a landing with your 1,500 men.  Of the rest of the army I will make two columns:  one commanded by M. de St. Aignan, the other by myself.  Both will attempt an escalade by surprise, at the moment when the first cannon-shot is fired.

“The cavalry will remain in position, in case of a repulse, to protect the retreating columns.  Of these three attacks, one must surely succeed.  The first column which gains the ramparts will fire a rocket to let the others know.”

“But one must think of everything, monseigneur,” said Joyeuse; “and supposing all three attacks should fail?”

“Then we must gain the vessels under the protection of our batteries.”

All bowed.

“Now, gentlemen, silence,” said the duke; “wake the sleeping troops, and embark; but let not a shot reveal our design.  You will be in the port, admiral, before the Antwerpians suspect your intention.  We shall go along the left bank, and shall arrive at the same time as yourself.  Go, gentlemen, and good courage; our former good luck will not fail to follow us over the Scheldt.”

The captains quitted the prince’s tent, and gave their orders with the indicated precautions.

CHAPTER LXIII.

Monseigneur.

However, the Antwerpians did not quietly see the hostile preparations of the Duc d’Anjou, and Joyeuse was not wrong in attributing to them all the enmity possible.  Antwerp was like a beehive at night, calm on the exterior, but within full of movement and murmur.

The Flemings in arms patroled the streets, barricaded their houses, and fraternized with the battalions of the Prince of Orange, of whom part were already in garrison there, while the other part entered the city in fractions.

When all was ready for a vigorous defense, the Prince of Orange, on a dark and moonless night, entered the city quietly, and went to the Hotel de Ville, where his confidants had everything ready for his reception.  There he received all the deputies of the bourgeoisie, passed in review the officers of the paid troops, and communicated his plans to them, the chief of which was to profit by this movement of the Duc d’Anjou to break with him.  The duke had done just what William wished to bring him to, and he saw with pleasure this new competitor for the sovereignty ruin himself, like so many others.

William would have taken the offensive, but the governor objected, and determined to wait for the arrival of monseigneur.