ture. She mistrusted him, and was half afraid of him, and Adrian knew
that it was so.

Ten minutes' ride through the quiet town, for in those days of terror
and suspicion unless business took them abroad people did not frequent
the streets much after sundown, brought the party to the van Goorl's
house in the Bree Straat. Here Adrian dismounted and tried to open
the door, only to find that it was locked and barred. This seemed to
exasperate a temper already somewhat excited by the various events and
experiences of the day, and more especially by the change in Elsa's
manner; at any rate he used the knocker with unnecessary energy. After
a while, with much turning of keys and drawing of bolts, the door was
opened, revealing Dirk, his stepfather, standing in the passage, candle
in hand, while behind, as though to be ready for any emergency, loomed
the great stooping shape of Red Martin.

"Is that you, Adrian?" asked Dirk in a voice at once testy and relieved.
"Then why did you not come to the side entrance instead of forcing us to
unbar here?"

"Because I bring you a guest," replied Adrian pointing to Elsa and her
companions. "It did not occur to me that you would wish guests to be
smuggled in by a back door as though--as though they were ministers of
our New Religion."

The bow had been drawn at a venture but the shaft went home, for Dirk
started and whispered: "Be silent, fool." Then he added aloud, "Guest!
What guest?"

"It is I, cousin Dirk, I, Elsa, Hendrik Brant's daughter," she said,
sliding from her mule.

"Elsa Brant!" ejaculated Dirk. "Why, how came you here?"

"I will tell you presently," she answered; "I cannot talk in the
street," and she touched her lips with her finger. "These are my
friends, the van Broekhovens, under whose escort I have travelled from
The Hague. They wish to go on to the house of their relations, the other
Broekhovens, if some one will show them the way."

Then followed greetings and brief explanations. After these the
Broekhovens departed to the house of their relatives, under the care of
Martin, while, its saddle having been removed and carried into the house
at Elsa's express request, Adrian led the mule round to the stable.

When Dirk had kissed and welcomed his young cousin he ushered her, still
accompanied by the saddle, into the room where his wife and Foy were at
supper, and with them the Pastor Arentz, that clergyman who had preached
to them on the previous night. He