"Say the word! say the word!" he muttered again and again, pressing hard on his sword.
THE PALE, DETERMINED FACE OF THE COUNTESS SHOWED FULL OF PURPOSE.
Drawn by Edmund F. Webber, Winner of Second Prize in Drawing Competition.
The Duke and Brunswick looked at each other in dismay. Beyond a doubt they were caught. Cut off from communication with their soldiers, they were powerless before the solid wall of men around them. Across the table the pale, determined face of the Countess showed full of purpose. For once a Spaniard's word was unsupported by an army, and Alva's nerve left him. There was a momentary, awkward pause, and then Brunswick came to the rescue.
He burst into a long laugh. "Upon my soul," he roared, "a good joke, an excellent piece of humor! You have surprised me, Countess. I was not aware you Northern people possessed our Spanish wit. What fine retainers! Duke, the messenger of the Countess is here, with an excellent guard to attend him. Do not keep him waiting for your messages."
The Duke hesitated a moment, and then joined Brunswick in what was the best way out of the matter. The Countess ordered her retainers from the room, but the intermittent clanks of armor from the court without were significant.
The Countess detained the generals until she received news that the cattle had been returned and that the Spaniards were marching from her dominions. She knew that they did not dare return and punish her, for they were urgently needed in the Netherlands. Then she politely sent her guests away, to curse her during all the long ride to their soldiers. But curses could not restore the broken self-satisfaction of Alva, nor hide the fact he had been conquered by a woman.
