At this very moment the soldiers, preceded by a magistrate, entered the room.
“Are you Dr. Cornelius van Baerle?” demanded the magistrate (who, although knowing the young man very well, put his question according to the forms of justice, which gave his proceedings a much more dignified air).
“I am that person, Master van Spennen,” answered Cornelius, politely, to his judge, “and you know it very well.”
“Then give up to us the seditious papers which you secrete in your house.”
“The seditious papers!” repeated Cornelius, quite dumfounded at the imputation.
“Now don’t look astonished, if you please.”
“I vow to you, Master van Spennen,” Cornelius replied, “that I am completely at a loss to understand what you want.”
“Then I shall put you in the way, Doctor,” said the judge; “give up to us the papers which the traitor Cornelius de Witt deposited with you in the month of January last.”
A sudden light came into the mind of Cornelius.
“Halloa!” said Van Spennen, “you begin now to remember, don’t you?”