ed Gerard and laid him on the bed-clothes. Then he took out a flask
he carried, and filled his hand twice with Schiedamze, and flung it
sharply each time in Gerard's face. The pungent liquor co-operated with
his recovery--he gave a faint sigh. Oh, never was sound so joyful to
human ear! She flew towards him, but then stopped, quivering for fear
she should hurt him. She had lost all confidence in herself.

"That is right--let him alone," said Jorian; "don't go cuddling him as
you did me, or you'll drive his breath back again. Let him alone: he is
sure to come to. 'Tisn't like as if he was an old man."

Gerard sighed deeply, and a faint streak of colour stole to his lips.
Jorian made for the door. He had hardly reached it, when he found his
legs seized from behind.

It was Margaret! She curled round his knees like a serpent, and kissed
his hand, and fawned on him. "You won't tell? You have saved his life;
you have not the heart to thrust him back into his grave, to undo your
own good work?"

"No, no! It is not the first time I have done you two a good turn; 'twas
I told you in the church whither we had to take him. Besides, what is
Dierich Brower to me? I'll see him hanged ere I'll tell him. But I
wish you'd tell me where the parchments are! There are a hundred crowns
offered for them. That would be a good windfall for my Joan and the
children, you know."

"Ah! they shall have those hundred crowns.

"What! are the things in the house?" asked Jorian eagerly.

"No; but I know where they are; and by God and St. Bavon I swear you
shall have them to-morrow. Come to me for them when you will, but come
alone."

"I were made else. What! share the hundred crowns with Dirk Brower? And
now may my bones rot in my skin if I let a soul know the poor boy is
here."

He then ran off, lest by staying longer he should excite suspicion,
and have them all after him. And Margaret knelt, quivering from head to
foot, and prayed beside Gerard and for Gerard.

"What is to do?" replied Jorian to Dierich Brower's query; "why, we have
scared the girl out of her wits. She was in a kind of fit."

"We had better all go and doctor her, then."

"Oh, yes! and frighten her into the churchyard. Her father is a doctor,
and I have roused him, and set him to bring her round. Let us see the
fire, will ye?"

His off-hand way disarmed all suspicion. And soon after the party agreed
that the kitchen of the "Three Kings" was much warmer than Peter's