“Have you any friends among them?” he asked.
“Yes, my friend, we have,” answered Master Clough; “and we will recompense you if you will enable us to see them.”
“You Englishmen have no lack of gold, and you will have no lack of friends wherever you go,” answered the sergeant. “For the present I cannot leave my post; but I shall very likely be on guard at the prison to-morrow, and then I will assist you, if you will make it worth my while.”
“But in the meantime can you tell us where our friends are to be found?” I asked.
“I will send one of my men, and he will show you,” whispered the sergeant. “I am prohibited telling you, but you will understand.”
He gave a peculiarly knowing look as he spoke. I doubted much whether the fellow was to be trusted; and yet we might obtain what we desired through his assistance. It was important also to find a man so willing to be bribed. By managing him properly, I saw that we might make him of use. The sergeant, telling us to wait, called one of his men, and whispered for some time in his ear.
“It is all arranged,” he said, at length; “and you will remember that I consider you my debtors. I am pretty well able to look after my own interests—you will understand that.”
We guessed clearly what he meant. However, as much depended upon the amount of gold Master Clough was able to expend, we knew that we should have little difficulty on that score. Should he bribe high enough, not only would the prison doors be open, but the gates of the city likewise, and not only our friends, but others in a like predicament, might be able to make their escape. Antwerp had become every day less and less fitted for our residence; and I knew that, as nearly all my patron’s affairs had been wound up, we should have no difficulty in quitting the place at a very short notice. Following our guide, we passed through several streets till we arrived at one of the many new jails which had of late years been established in that unfortunate city. The soldier knocked at the gate. A warder, armed to the teeth, opened it.
“What, more prisoners?” he exclaimed.
“No,” answered the soldier, and whispered a few words. “They pay well, though.”