ge, and would do his utmost to protect him should he
go on board.

Diedrich Meghem was a brave man, but the Inquisition, he knew too well,
was not an institution to be trifled with. Poor Gretchen was
overwhelmed with grief when she heard of the dangerous position in which
Diedrich was placed. She urged him to fly without delay, promising
again and again to be faithful to him, and to welcome him as a husband
whenever he should return. The merchant Hopper also advised him to
leave the country. Diedrich Meghem had made all the arrangements
possible with his head clerk and manager, and was still writing busily
at his own house, having packed up such articles as he desired to take
with him, when Peter Kopplestock hurried into his room.

"It's time for you to be off at once, my friend," he exclaimed; "this
very night the Inquisitors' officers will visit your house, and if they
find you, will carry you off to an imprisonment from which, with life,
you will never escape. Here, I have brought this large Spanish cloak;
throw it over your shoulders and follow me. Your portmanteau and bags I
will take care of."

It was already too dark to distinguish people in the streets. Peter led
the way down to the river, Diedrich following him. They were quickly on
board the ferryboat, but Peter, instead of pulling over to the other
bank of the river, rowed down the stream as fast as his arms could urge
on the boat. Diedrich stepped on board the vessel, where he was
welcomed cordially by the skipper. Peter threw his portmanteau and bag
over the bulwarks, and giving him his blessing, pulled back to the town.

CHAPTER TWO.

AN UNWELCOME SUITOR--GRETCHEN REFUSES TO ACCEPT CASPAR GAILL--CASPAR
PLOTS WITH FATHER QUIXADA TO BETRAY THE PROTESTANTS--THE MONK'S
TREACHERY.

Gretchen was seated in the parlour of her father's house, busily
employed in tapestry work--the constant occupation of young ladies in
those days, as at present. The merchant Hopper came in; care and
thought sat on his brow. His daughter affectionately inquired the cause
of his anxiety.

"I cannot tell you, my child," he answered. "It is enough to know that
so many of my friends, in various parts of our unhappy land, have been
put to death by fire, and sword, and drowning, through the mandates of
the tyrant Alva, and who knows what may be our fate in this city?
Hitherto we have escaped, but the priests are busy, and are even now
trying to ferret out the Prot