A minute after he turns to fly to the child he had grieved for, but Guy stays him and says: “First I must tell you something.”
“What is it? Don’t keep me.”
“Only for her sake,” he answers, and pours out his tale of Oliver’s death, then whispers: “Tell it to her—I tried but could not.”
In his story Chester is compelled to reveal to the merchant who he really is, and this seems to take more hold upon Bodé Volcker than even the painter’s death. He gasps astounded: “You! ‘The First of the English?’ You! You came to Antwerp—did mortal man ever take such risk? Ten thousand crowns are now put upon your head since the battle on the ice. Why did you take such risk?” Here he suddenly cries: “Oh! Bij den hemel! I see. You’re in love with Alva’s daughter.”
“Yes,” says Guy, who feels that he has now put this man under such obligation that his secret is safe with him. “She is my affianced wife, I am going to marry the Duke’s daughter.”
“Then you must hurry, young man, you must hurry,” says Bodé Volcker solemnly.
“Why?”
“Because—Ah I guess the reason now!—it was after the death of Guido Amati—she has become religious. It is said she will become a nun.”
“A NUN!” screams Guy. “Because she’s heard that Guido Amati is dead. This is a rare and cruel joke!” and bursts, with sinking heart and sickening soul, into hideous laughter, jeering at himself, as Bodé Volcker hurries away to take his daughter once more to his arms. [[205]]