There was a silence as he dipped his quill in the ink and reluctantly traced his name—the last on the list.
Then, as the secretary took the paper, Madam de Witt rose with a breath of agonised relief.
But Orent Muys, looking at the writing, cried out—
“What is this, Mynheer?—what have you put after your name—two letters—V.C.?”
“That means Vi coactus,” replied the Ruard shortly; “if you have forgot your Latin the translation runs—‘constrained by force.’”
“This is but playing with us!” exclaimed Captain Hoogewerf.
“I implore you, Mynheer,” urged the secretary. “You will only rouse the fury of the people—scratch out those letters.”
“I shall not retract them,” he answered. “‘Constrained by force,’ otherwise I should not have signed.”
The secretary looked at the captain and the captain at the soldiers.
Orent Muys tried persuasions and Hoogewerf threats.