Mary of Burgundy; or, The Revolt of Ghent

by G. P. R. James

"I trust you, sir!" he replied; "I saved you at a moment when you were an oppressed and injured man; and to doubt you now in such a case, would be a kind of blasphemy against the God who made the human heart. Take this ring, and send it by some sure messenger--a young boy, perchance, were best, though I do not think they would maltreat any one but an open enemy--but send it by some page in a small skiff down the Scheldt at two hours after dusk. The boat will undoubtedly be stopped; and let the page give the ring to Matthew Gournay, whom he will find in the woods between this and Heusden, if he escaped unhurt from Ghent. Let the boy add a message, bidding him, in my name, render himself, with twenty of his comrades, to the house of good Martin Fruse, at any hour that you may appoint. Fear not that he will meet you, and then take counsel with him as you may think fit."

Some more explanations ensued; but as Albert Maurice perceived that the prisoner was exhausted with so long a conversation, he soon after bade him farewell, and left him. "For two days," he said, as he turned to depart, "in all probability, I shall not visit you; for it may be well not to excite any suspicion of my design. But you shall be watched carefully night and day, that no foul practice be employed against you; and at the end of the third day I trust to find you well enough to bear at least a short walk to the river side. In the meantime, as they have deprived you of your arms, for greater security take this;" and he placed in his hands a broad double-edged Venetian poniard, adding, "fear not to use it, should any one attempt to injure you; for if they do, the means they employ must be of that kind which does not court examination; and now, once more, farewell!"

The young citizen then retired; and though the more kindly and noble feelings which his conversation with Hugh of Gueldres had awakened--feelings untainted by the world's ambition or its policy--could not; it is true, stifle entirely the cry of remorse; yet there had been a balm in it all, that sent him forth soothed and softened. He retired not to his chamber till he had given orders that care and attendance should be shown to the prisoner, and that he should be removed to a better chamber; but when, at length, he cast himself upon his bed, fatigue, and the feeling that his heart was not all bitterness, brought sleep, though it was disturbed; and he woke not till the dawn looked in, and roused him from slumber.

Already, when he rose, the first poignancy of regret was gone; and the wound in his heart had grown stiff and numb. The voice of self-love was more ready to plead extenuation; and hope, always far more potent than memory, told him that mighty things might yet be derived for love and for his country, from the very deeds he so deeply regretted. At all events, policy whispered that he must not let the moments slip; and, though the immortal worm, remorse, was still slowly preying on his heart, he rose prepared to forget the pang, in all the active energy of watchful policy and great ambition.

Even while he was dressing, messenger after messenger, from different parts of the country, bearing news, not alone of the movements of friends and enemies, but also of the preparations which he himself had been labouring to complete, was admitted to his presence. After collecting the tidings that each one bore him, with a minute memory that never failed, and arranging every particular in his own mind with that methodical accuracy which rendered the whole available at a moment's notice, he descended early to the hall, where he expected soon to meet many envious and suspicious visitors, feeling that he possessed a store of ready information on every subject, which he knew must confound and overbear them all.

Strange to say--or, perhaps, not strange at all--the state of painful irritation which he now suffered, appeared to render all the faculties of his mind more acute and powerful. Naturally energetic, he had acquired a new degree of energy, from the necessity of withdrawing all his thoughts from the past, and fixing them on the present or the future; and his comprehension of the most confused narrative seemed more clear, his orders to the most stupid messenger more precise, than ever they had been in the whole course of his public career.

An assembly of all the deputies from Flanders and Brabant had been appointed for that day; but during the morning a number of persons crowded the great hall in a desultory manner, long before any general meeting of the states took place; and amongst the first that appeared was Maillotin du Bac, with an air which expressed both a knowledge that he had overstepped his authority, and a determination to resist every effort to curb his nearly gratified revenge.

At another moment, Albert Maurice might have alone despised him, and crushed him beneath his feet as a mere worm; but he well knew that great power often trips at a small obstacle. He felt, too, that the height he had reached was a giddy one; and that it might require to stand some time on the dizzy pinnacle of power, in order to acquire that firmness of footing which alone could justify him in despising inferior enemies. His very elevation offended many; and, seeing that the contention must soon commence between himself and the Duke of Gueldres on the one hand, and the Duke of Cleves on the other, he determined to leave the way unencumbered by any minor difficulties. Not that he proposed for a moment to abandon his purpose towards the prisoner he had left the night before: but he resolved to free him by quiet policy, more than by bold and sweeping power.

"Sir Prevot," he said, as soon as their first salutation had passed, "you did wrong, last night, in placing a sentry within the walls of the municipal prison; and also somewhat harshly, in confining an untried prisoner in one of the lower dungeons. Hear me, sir, to an end," he added, seeing the other about to make some dogged reply: "I have no intention of bringing the matter of your boldness before the council, as I might have done; but the thing must not be repeated. Should any like event arise again, I will take care the magistracy of Ghent shall examine strictly what punishment is to be inflicted on those who have frequently dared to infringe their privileges! Mark me, and remember! for I will not pass it over a second time. Now, then, before the states assemble, take one of my officers and visit the prisoner. See whether he is able to undergo examination to-day, and make me your report."

The Prevot was very glad to avoid any collision with the eschevins of Ghent, and at the same time to see a fair prospect of his revenge being accomplished; but, as it was far from the wish of Maillotin du Bac that his prisoner should be examined before the states at all, he instantly determined to report him as much too ill to meet the proposed investigation.