Thus from that minute Goes addressed himself to the unknown exclusively; although, having been sent by another, it was to him that he should have given an account of his mission.

“Monseigneur,” said he, “I set out in my smallest bark and passed, by giving the word, through all our ships, and reached those cursed French.  Ah! pardon, monseigneur.”

The stranger smiled and said, “Never mind, I am but half French, so should be but half cursed.”

“Then monseigneur pardons me?”

He nodded, and Goes went on.

“While I rowed in the dark with my oars wrapped in cloth, I heard a voice crying, ‘Hola! bark, what do you want?’ I thought it was to me that the question was addressed, and was about to reply something or other, when I heard some one cry behind me, ‘Admiral’s boat.’”

Monseigneur looked at the council.

“At the same moment,” continued Gues, “I felt a shock; my bark was swamped, and I fell into the water, but the waves of the Scheldt knew me for an old acquaintance, and threw me up again.  It was the admiral’s boat taking M. de Joyeuse on board, and which had passed over me; God only knows how I was not crushed or drowned.”

“Thanks, brave Goes, thanks,” said the Prince of Orange, putting a purse into his hand.  However, the sailor seemed to wait for his dismissal from the stranger, who gave him a friendly nod, which he valued more than the prince’s present.

“Well,” said monseigneur to the burgomaster, “what do you say of this report?  Do you still doubt that the French are preparing, and do you believe that it was to pass the night on board that M. de Joyeuse was leaving the camp for his ship?”

“But you are a diviner, then, monseigneur,” cried the bourgeois.

“Not more than Monseigneur the Prince of Orange, who is in all things of my opinion, I am sure.  But I, like him, was well informed, and know well those on the other side, so that I should have been much astonished had they not attacked to-night.  Then be ready, gentlemen, for if you give them time, the attack will be serious.”

“These gentlemen will do me the justice to own,” said the prince, “that before your arrival I held exactly the same language to them that you now do.”

“But,” said the burgomaster, “why does monseigneur believe that the attack is about to commence?”

“Here are the probabilities.  The infantry is Catholic; it will fight alone; that is, on one side.  The cavalry is Calvinist; they will fight alone on another side.  The navy is under M. de Joyeuse, from Paris, who will take his share of the combat and the glory.  That is three sides.”

“Then let us form three corps,” said the burgomaster.

“Make only one, gentlemen, with all your best soldiers, and leave any of whom you may be doubtful in close fight to guard your walls.  Then with this body make a vigorous sally when Francois least expects it.  They mean to attack; let them be forestalled, and attacked themselves.  If you wait for their assault you are lost, for no one equals the French at an attack, as you, gentlemen, have no equals at defending your towns.”