H. C. Bailey

“ One of them signed the landlord out, and the two stalked stiffly to Raoul. "Your name is Raoul?" one asked.
Raoul, head on one side, looked them up and down. "God help your wives," said he: and began to sing to them.
"Fellow—fellow—I would have you to know I am Alderman Peter van Hessels, fellow. And this is my son the Councilor Peter van Hessels."
"Peter Minor—kill Peter Major for bringing you into the world: Peter Major—kill Peter Minor for coming into the world. Thus joy regains her sway." ”

“ Raoul sighed. "And I, lady, am come to plead for one fool more."
"'Tis a compliment to me."
Raoul took her hand. "Ah, what is life without you?"
"I have not tried, indeed."
"Lady, you are a woman——"
"Sir, my mother determined it so."
"—and what is a woman without love?"
"Even as a man without wit, sir."
"I come from one who loves you as never man loved yet—from one who would go through fire and water——"
"But not, it seems, over a wall!"
"Lady, he would not peril you by his presence. Peter van Hessels——"
Catarina started back. "Peter van Hessels? You come from him?" ”

“ Bergen, you know, is within the Spanish bounds, and my brother writes that there is no way to send Catarina safely. Look you now, I believe that my brother does not wish to send Catarina. He has all her father's money, and he would not want to give it up."
"He is, faith, your own brother, Peter Major." Raoul turned: "Peter Minor, do you love your Catarina?"
The councilor was puzzled. "But she is my affianced bride," he cried.
"The maiden and the dowry were promised. I have the bond," cried the alderman.
"Do you know what hell is for? It is to burn bonds. And bondholders." ”

“ While they eat, we flee."
"Oh—oh, dare we?"
"Dare we anything else?"
She turned away. "The alderman and I—we dine before the servants."
"Admirable! You will have a dinner inside you to give you heart for this heroical enterprise."
Catarina took up the hat and tried it on, and put it away. Catarina held up the doublet and put it down again. "I am sure they will be much too big," she murmured. Raoul stared upon the wall.
The clocks began striking noon. "Oh! this is our dinner hour," Catarina cried.
Raoul flung his clothes to the wardrobe and went in after them. Again the door was locked. ”

“ Raoul, left alone, looked at his bond and laughed. "If I kept the dowry and left Peter Minor the bride!" he suggested to himself. "That would be amusing."
So in the springtime the Eel and Cradle at Bergen op Zoom welcomed a little guest. He announced for all men to hear that he was a poor Spanish gentleman on his way to join Don Julian Romero. Whereat other guests, two lusty French merchants and a square-faced Englishman, looked upon him askance. He treated them with full Spanish arrogance.
"Lie first (it is a maxim of Raoul's) —"Lie first. There will always be room for the truth. ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1961, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 62 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”