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<h2> CHAPTER XXVI </h2>
<h3> THE BRIDEGROOM AND THE BRIDE </h3>
<p>The day passed, and through every hour of it the snow fell incessantly.
Night came, and it was still falling in large, soft flakes that floated to
the earth gently as thistledown, for now there was no wind. Adrian met his
father at meals only; the rest of the day he preferred to spend out of
doors in the snow, or hanging about the old sheds at the back of the mill,
rather than endure the society of this terrible man; this man of mocking
words and iron purpose, who was forcing him into the commission of a great
crime.</p>
<p>It was at breakfast on the following morning that Ramiro inquired of Black
Mag whether the Jufvrouw Brant had sufficiently recovered from the
fatigues of her journey to honour them with her presence. The woman
replied that she absolutely refused to leave her room, or even to speak
more than was necessary.</p>
<p>"Then," said Ramiro, "as it is important that I should have a few words
with her, be so good as to tell the young lady, with my homage, that I
will do myself the honour of waiting on her in the course of the
forenoon."</p>
<p>Meg departed on her errand, and Adrian looked up suspiciously.</p>
<p>"Calm yourself, young friend," said his father, "although the interview
will be private, you have really no cause for jealousy. At present,
remember, I am but the second string in the bow-case, the understudy who
has learnt the part, a humble position, but one which may prove useful."</p>
<p>At all of which gibes Adrian winced. But he did not reply, for by now he
had learned that he was no match for his father's bitter wit.</p>
<p>Elsa received the message as she received everything else, in silence.</p>
<p>Three days before, as after a fearful illness during which on several
occasions she was at the very doors of death, Lysbeth van Goorl had been
declared out of danger, Elsa, her nurse, ventured to leave her for a few
hours. That evening the town seemed to stifle her and, feeling that she
needed the air of the country, she passed the Morsch poort and walked a
little way along the banks of the canal, never noticing, poor girl, that
her footsteps were dogged. When it began to grow dusk, she halted and
stood a while gazing towards the Haarlemer Meer, letting her heart go out
to the lover who, as she thought and hoped, within a day or two would be
at her side.</p>
<p>Then it was that something was thrown over her head, and for a while all
was black. She awoke to find herself lying in a boat, and watching her,
two wretches, whom she recognised as those who had assailed her when first
she came to Leyden from The Hague.</p>
<p>"Why have you kidnapped me, and where am I going?" she asked.</p>
<p>"Because we are paid to do it, and you are going to Adrian van Goorl," was
the answer.</p>
<p>Then she understood, and was silent.</p>
<p>Thus they brought her to this lonesome, murderous-looking place, where
sure enough Adrian was waiting for her, waiting with a lie upon his lips.
Now, doubtless, the end was at hand. She, who loved his brother with all
her heart and soul, was to be given forcibly in marriage to a man whom she
despised and loathed, the vain, furious-tempered traitor, who, for
revenge, jealousy, or greed, she knew not which, had not hesitated to send
his benefactor, and mother's husband, to perish in the fires of the
Inquisition.</p>
<p>What was she to do? Escape seemed out of the question, imprisoned as she
was on the third story of a lofty mill standing in a lonely, snow-shrouded
wilderness, cut off from the sight of every friendly face, and spied on
hour after hour by two fierce-eyed women. No, there was only one escape
for her—through the gate of death. Even this would be difficult, for
she had no weapon, and day and night the women kept guard over her, one
standing sentinel, while the other slept. Moreover, she had no mind to
die, being young and healthy, with a love to live for, and from her
childhood up she had been taught that self-slaughter is a sin. No, she
would trust in God, and overwhelming though it was, fight her way through
this trouble as best she might. The helpless find friends sometimes.
Therefore, that her strength might be preserved, Elsa rested and ate of
her food, and drank the wine which they brought to her, refusing to leave
the room, or to speak more than she was obliged, but watching everything
that passed.</p>
<p>On the second morning of her imprisonment Ramiro's message reached her, to
which, as usual, she made no answer. In due course also Ramiro himself
arrived, and stood bowing in the doorway.</p>
<p>"Have I your permission to enter, Jufvrouw?" he asked. Then Elsa, knowing
that the moment of trial had come, steeled herself for the encounter.</p>
<p>"You are master here," she answered, in a voice cold as the falling snow
without, "why then do you mock me?"</p>
<p>He motioned to the women to leave the room, and when they had gone,
replied:</p>
<p>"I have little thought of such a thing, lady; the matter in hand is too
serious for smart sayings," and with another bow he sat himself down on a
chair near the hearth, where a fire was burning. Whereon Elsa rose and
stood over against him, for upon her feet she seemed to feel stronger.</p>
<p>"Will you be so good as to set out this matter, Senor Ramiro? Am I brought
here to be tried for heresy?"</p>
<p>"Even so, for heresy against the god of love, and the sentence of the
Court is that you must expiate your sin, not at the stake, but at the
altar."</p>
<p>"I do not understand."</p>
<p>"Then I will explain. My son Adrian, a worthy young man on the whole—you
know that he <i>is</i> my son, do you not?—has had the misfortune,
or I should say the good fortune, to fall earnestly in love with you,
whereas you have the bad taste—or, perhaps, the good taste—to
give your affections elsewhere. Under the circumstances, Adrian, being a
youth of spirit and resource, has fallen back upon primitive methods in
order to bring his suit to a successful conclusion. He is here, you are
here, and this evening I understand that the priest will be here. I need
not dwell upon the obvious issue; indeed, it is a private matter upon
which I have no right to intrude, except, of course, as a relative and a
well-wisher."</p>
<p>Elsa made an impatient movement with her hand, as though to brush aside
all this web of words.</p>
<p>"Why do you take so much trouble to force an unhappy girl into a hateful
marriage?" she asked. "How can such a thing advantage you?"</p>
<p>"Ah!" answered Ramiro briskly, "I perceive I have to do with a woman of
business, one who has that rarest of gifts—common sense. I will be
frank. Your esteemed father died possessed of a very large fortune, which
to-day is your property as his sole issue and heiress. Under the marriage
laws, which I myself think unjust, that fortune will pass into the power
of any husband whom you choose to take. Therefore, so soon as you are made
his wife it will pass to Adrian. I am Adrian's father, and, as it happens,
he is pecuniarily indebted to me to a considerable amount, so that, in the
upshot, as he himself has pointed out more than once, this alliance will
provide for both of us. But business details are wearisome, so I need not
enlarge."</p>
<p>"The fortune you speak of, Senor Ramiro, is lost."</p>
<p>"It is lost, but I have reason to hope that it will be found."</p>
<p>"You mean that this is purely a matter of money?"</p>
<p>"So far as I am concerned, purely. For Adrian's feelings I cannot speak,
since who knows the mystery of another's heart?"</p>
<p>"Then, if the money were forthcoming—or a clue to it—there
need be no marriage?"</p>
<p>"So far as I am concerned, none at all."</p>
<p>"And if the money is not forthcoming, and I refuse to marry the Heer
Adrian, or he to marry me—what then?"</p>
<p>"That is a riddle, but I think I see an answer at any rate to half of it.
Then the marriage would still take place, but with another bridegroom."</p>
<p>"Another bridegroom! Who?"</p>
<p>"Your humble and devoted adorer."</p>
<p>Elsa shuddered and recoiled a step.</p>
<p>"Ah!" he said, "I should not have bowed, you saw my white hairs—to
the young a hateful sight."</p>
<p>Elsa's indignation rose, and she answered:</p>
<p>"It is not your white hair that I shrink from, Senor, which in some would
be a crown of honour, but——"</p>
<p>"In my case suggests to you other reflections. Be gentle and spare me
them. In a world of rough actions, what need to emphasise them with rough
words?"</p>
<p>For a few minutes there was silence, which Ramiro, glancing out of the
lattice, broke by remarking that "The snowfall was extraordinarily heavy
for the time of year." Then followed another silence.</p>
<p>"I understood you just now, dear lady, to make some sort of suggestion
which might lead to an arrangement satisfactory to both of us. The exact
locality of this wealth is at present obscure—you mentioned some
clue. Are you in a position to furnish such a clue?"</p>
<p>"If I am in a position, what then?"</p>
<p>"Then, perhaps, after a few days visit to an interesting, but little
explored part of Holland, you might return to your friends as you left
them—in short as a single woman."</p>
<p>A struggle shook Elsa, and do what she would some trace of it appeared in
her face.</p>
<p>"Do you swear that?" she whispered.</p>
<p>"Most certainly."</p>
<p>"Do you swear before God that if you have this clue you will not force me
into a marriage with the Heer Adrian, or with yourself—that you will
let me go, unharmed?"</p>
<p>"I swear it—before God."</p>
<p>"Knowing that God will be revenged upon you if you break the oath, you
still swear?"</p>
<p>"I still swear. Why these needless repetitions?"</p>
<p>"Then—then," and she leant towards him, speaking in a hoarse
whisper, "believing that you, even you, will not dare to be false to such
an oath, for you, even you, must fear death, a miserable death, and
vengeance, eternal vengeance, I give you the clue: It lies in the hilt of
the sword Silence."</p>
<p>"The sword Silence? What sword is that?"</p>
<p>"The great sword of Red Martin."</p>
<p>Stirred out of his self-control, Ramiro struck his hand upon his knee.</p>
<p>"And to think," he said, "that for over twelve hours I had it hanging on
the wall of the Gevangenhuis! Well, I fear that I must ask you to be more
explicit. Where is this sword?"</p>
<p>"Wherever Red Martin is, that is all I know. I can tell you no more; the
plan of the hiding-place is there."</p>
<p>"Or was there. Well, I believe you, but to win a secret from the hilt of
the sword of the man who broke his way out of the torture-chamber of the
Gevangenhuis, is a labour that would have been not unworthy of Hercules.
First, Red Martin must be found, then his sword must be taken, which, I
think, will cost men their lives. Dear lady, I am obliged for your
information, but I fear that the marriage must still go through."</p>
<p>"You swore, you swore," she gasped, "you swore before God!"</p>
<p>"Quite so, and I shall leave—the Power you refer to—to manage
the matter. Doubtless He can attend to His own affairs—I must attend
to mine. I hope that about seven o'clock this evening will suit you, by
which time the priest and—a bridegroom will be ready."</p>
<p>Then Elsa broke down.</p>
<p>"Devil!" she cried in the torment of her despair. "To save my honour I
have betrayed my father's trust; I have betrayed the secret for which
Martin was ready to die by torment, and given him over to be hunted like a
wild beast. Oh! God forgive me, and God help me!"</p>
<p>"Doubtless, dear young lady, He will do the first, for your temptations
were really considerable; I, who have more experience, outwitted you, that
was all. Possibly, also, He may do the second, though many have uttered
that cry unheard. For my own sake, I trust that He was sleeping when you
uttered yours. But it is your affair and His; I leave it to be arranged
between you. Till this evening, Jufvrouw," and he bowed himself from the
room.</p>
<p>But Elsa, shamed and broken-hearted, threw herself upon the bed and wept.</p>
<p>At mid-day she arose, hearing upon the stair the step of the woman who
brought her food, and to hide her tear-stained face went to the barred
lattice and looked out. The scene was dismal indeed, for the wind had
veered suddenly, the snow had ceased, and in place of it rain was falling
with a steady persistence. When the woman had gone, Elsa washed her face,
and although her appetite turned from it, ate of the food, knowing how
necessary it was that she should keep her strength.</p>
<p>Another hour passed, and there came a knock on the door. Elsa shuddered,
for she thought that Ramiro had returned to torment her. Indeed it was
almost a relief when, instead of him, appeared his son. Once glance at
Adrian's nervous, shaken face, yes, and even the sound of his uncertain
step brought hope to her heart. Her woman's instinct told her that now she
had no longer to do with the merciless and terrible Ramiro, to whose eyes
she was but a pretty pawn in a game that he must win, but with a young man
who loved her, and whom she held, therefore, at a disadvantage—with
one, moreover, who was harassed and ashamed, and upon whose conscience,
therefore, she might work. She turned upon him, drawing herself up, and
although she was short and Adrian was tall, of a sudden he felt as though
she towered over him.</p>
<p>"Your pleasure?" asked Elsa.</p>
<p>In the old days Adrian would have answered with some magnificent
compliment, or far-fetched simile lifted from the pages of romancers. In
truth he had thought of several such while, like a half-starved dog
seeking a home, he wandered round and round the mill-house in the snow.
But he was now far beyond all rhetoric or gallantries.</p>
<p>"My father wished," he began humbly—"I mean that I have come to
speak to you about—our marriage."</p>
<p>Of a sudden Elsa's delicate features seemed to turn to ice, while, to his
fancy at any rate, her brown eyes became fire.</p>
<p>"Marriage," she said in a strange voice. "Oh! what an unutterable coward
you must be to speak that word. Call what is proposed by any foul title
which you will, but at least leave the holy name of marriage undefiled."</p>
<p>"It is not my fault," he answered sullenly, but shrinking beneath her
words. "You know, Elsa, that I wished to wed you honourably enough."</p>
<p>"Yes," she broke in, "and because I would not listen, because you do not
please me, and you could not win me as a man wins a maid, you—you
laid a trap and kidnapped me, thinking to get by brute force that which my
heart withheld. Oh! in all the Netherlands lives there another such an
abject as Adrian called van Goorl, the base-born son of Ramiro the galley
slave?"</p>
<p>"I have told you that it is false," he replied furiously. "I had nothing
to do with your capture. I knew nothing of it till I saw you here."</p>
<p>Elsa laughed a very bitter laugh. "Spare your breath," she said, "for if
you swore it before the face of the recording Angel I would not believe
you. Remember that you are the man who betrayed your brother and your
benefactor, and then guess, if you can, what worth I put upon your words."</p>
<p>In the bitterness of his heart Adrian groaned aloud, and from that groan
Elsa, listening eagerly, gathered some kind of hope.</p>
<p>"Surely," she went on, with a changed and softened manner, "surely you
will not do this wickedness. The blood of Dirk van Goorl lies on your
head; will you add mine to his? For be sure of this, I swear it by my
Maker, that before I am indeed a wife to you I shall be dead—or
mayhap you will be dead, or both of us. Do you understand?"</p>
<p>"I understand, but——"</p>
<p>"But what? Where is the use of this wickedness? For your soul's sake,
refuse to have aught to do with such a sin."</p>
<p>"But if so, my father will marry you."</p>
<p>It was a chance arrow, but it went home, for of a sudden Elsa's strength
and eloquence seemed to leave her. She ran to him with her hands clasped,
she flung herself upon her knees.</p>
<p>"Oh! help me to escape," she moaned, "and I will bless you all my life."</p>
<p>"It is impossible," he answered. "Escape from this guarded place, through
those leagues of melting snow? I tell you that it is impossible."</p>
<p>"Then," and her eyes grew wild, "then kill him and free me. He is a devil,
he is your evil genius; it would be a righteous deed. Kill him and free
me."</p>
<p>"I should like to," answered Adrian; "I nearly did once, but, for my
soul's sake, I can't put a sword through my own father; it is the most
horrible of crimes. When I confessed——"</p>
<p>"Then," she broke in, "if this farce, this infamy must be gone through,
swear at least that you will treat it as such, that you will respect me."</p>
<p>"It is a hard thing to ask of a husband who loves you more than any woman
in the world," he answered turning aside his head.</p>
<p>"Remember," she went on, with another flash of defiant spirit, "that if
you do not, you will soon love me better than any woman out of the world,
or perhaps we shall both settle what lies between us before the Judgment
Seat of God. Will you swear?"</p>
<p>He hesitated.</p>
<p>Oh! she reflected, what if he should answer—"Rather than this I hand
you over to Ramiro"? What if he should think of that argument? Happily for
her, at the moment he did not.</p>
<p>"Swear," she implored, "swear," clinging with her hands to the lappet of
his coat and lifting to him her white and piteous face.</p>
<p>"I make it an offering in expiation of my sins," he groaned, "you shall go
free of me."</p>
<p>Elsa uttered a sigh of relief. She put no faith whatever in Adrian's
promises, but at the worst it would give her time.</p>
<p>"I thought that I should not appeal in vain——"</p>
<p>"To so amusing and egregious a donkey," said Ramiro's mocking voice
speaking from the gloom of the doorway, which now Elsa observed for the
first time had swung open mysteriously.</p>
<p>"My dear son and daughter-in-law, how can I thank you sufficiently for the
entertainment with which you have enlivened one of the most dreary
afternoons I remember. Don't look dangerous, my boy; recall what you have
just told this young lady, that the crime of removing a parent is one
which, though agreeable, is not lightly to be indulged. Then, as to your
future arrangements, how touching! The soul of a Diana, I declare, and the
self-sacrifice of a—no, I fear that the heroes of antiquity can
furnish no suitable example. And now, adieu, I go to welcome the gentleman
you both of you so eagerly expect."</p>
<p>He went, and a minute later without speaking, for the situation seemed
beyond words, Adrian crept down the stairs after him, more miserable and
crushed even than he had crept up them half an hour before.</p>
<p>Another two hours went by. Elsa was in her apartment with Black Meg for
company, who watched her as a cat watches a mouse in a trap. Adrian had
taken refuge in the place where he slept above. It was a dreary, vacuous
chamber, that once had held stones and other machinery of the mill now
removed, the home of spiders and half-starved rats, that a lean black cat
hunted continually. Across its ceiling ran great beams, whereof the
interlacing ends, among which sharp draughts whistled, lost themselves in
gloom, while, with an endless and exasperating sound, as of a knuckle upon
a board, the water dripped from the leaky roof.</p>
<p>In the round living-chamber below Ramiro was alone. No lamp had been lit,
but the glow from the great turf fire played upon his face as he sat
there, watching, waiting, and scheming in the chair of black oak.
Presently a noise from without caught his quick ear, and calling to the
serving woman to light the lamp, he went to the door, opened it, and saw a
lantern floating towards him through the thick steam of falling rain.
Another minute and the bearer of the lantern, Hague Simon, arrived,
followed by two other men.</p>
<p>"Here he is," said Simon, nodding at the figure behind him, a short round
figure wrapped in a thick frieze cloak, from which water ran. "The other
is the head boatman."</p>
<p>"Good," said Ramiro. "Tell him and his companions to wait in the shed
without, where liquor will be sent to them; they may be wanted later on."</p>
<p>Then followed talk and oaths, and at length the man retreated grumbling.</p>
<p>"Enter, Father Thomas," said Ramiro; "you have had a wet journey, I fear.
Enter and give us your blessing."</p>
<p>Before he answered the priest threw off his dripping, hooded cape of
Frisian cloth, revealing a coarse, wicked face, red and blear-eyed from
intemperance.</p>
<p>"My blessing?" he said in a raucous voice. "Here it is, Senor Ramiro, or
whatever you call yourself now. Curse you all for bringing out a holy
priest upon one of your devil's errands in weather which is only fit for a
bald-headed coot to travel through. There is going to be a flood; already
the water is running over the banks of the dam, and it gathers every
moment as the snow melts. I tell you there is going to be such a flood as
we have not seen for years."</p>
<p>"The more reason, Father, for getting through this little business
quickly; but first you will wish for something to drink."</p>
<p>Father Thomas nodded, and Ramiro filling a small mug with brandy, gave it
to him. He gulped it off.</p>
<p>"Another," he said. "Don't be afraid. A chosen vessel should also be a
seasoned vessel; at any rate this one is. Ah! that's better. Now then,
what's the exact job?"</p>
<p>Ramiro took him apart and they talked together for a while.</p>
<p>"Very good," said the priest at length, "I will take the risk and do it,
for where heretics are concerned such things are not too closely inquired
into nowadays. But first down with the money; no paper or promises, if you
please."</p>
<p>"Ah! you churchmen," said Ramiro, with a faint smile, "in things spiritual
or temporal how much have we poor laity to learn of you!" With a sigh he
produced the required sum, then paused and added, "No; with your leave we
will see the papers first. You have them with you?"</p>
<p>"Here they are," answered the priest, drawing some documents from his
pocket. "But they haven't been married yet; the rule is, marry first, then
certify. Until the ceremony is actually performed, anything might happen,
you know."</p>
<p>"Quite so, Father. Anything might happen either before or after; but
still, with your leave, I think that in this case we may as well certify
first; you might want to be getting away, and it will save so much trouble
later. Will you be so kind as to write your certificate?"</p>
<p>Father Thomas hesitated, while Ramiro gently clinked the gold coins in his
hand and murmured,</p>
<p>"I should be sorry to think, Father, that you had taken such a rough
journey for nothing."</p>
<p>"What trick are you at now?" growled the priest. "Well, after all it is a
mere form. Give me the names."</p>
<p>Ramiro gave them; Father Thomas scrawled them down, adding some words and
his own signature, then said, "There you are, that will hold good against
anyone except the Pope."</p>
<p>"A mere form," repeated Ramiro, "of course. But the world attaches so much
importance to forms, so I think that we will have this one witnessed—No,
not by myself, who am an interested party—by someone independent,"
and calling Hague Simon and the waiting-woman he bade them set their names
at the foot of the documents.</p>
<p>"Papers signed in advance—fees paid in advance!" he went on, handing
over the money, "and now, just one more glass to drink the health of the
bride and bridegroom, also in advance. You will not refuse, nor you,
worthy Simon, nor you, most excellent Abigail. Ah! I thought not, the
night is cold."</p>
<p>"And the brandy strong," muttered the priest thickly, as this third dose
of raw spirit took effect upon him. "Now get on with the business, for I
want to be out of this hole before the flood comes."</p>
<p>"Quite so. Friends, will you be so good as to summon my son and the lady?
The lady first, I think—and all three of you might go to escort her.
Brides sometimes consider it right to fain a slight reluctance—you
understand? On second thoughts, you need not trouble the Senor Adrian. I
have a new words of ante-nuptial advice to offer, so I will go to him."</p>
<p>A minute later father and son stood face to face. Adrian leaped up; he
shook his fist, he raved and stormed at the cold, impassive man before
him.</p>
<p>"You fool, you contemptible fool!" said Ramiro when he had done. "Heavens!
to think that such a creature should have sprung from me, a human jackass
only fit to bear the blows and burdens of others, to fill the field with
empty brayings, and wear himself out by kicking at the air. Oh! don't
twist up your face at me, for I am your master as well as your father,
however much you may hate me. You are mine, body and soul, don't you
understand; a bond-slave, nothing more. You lost the only chance you ever
had in the game when you got me down at Leyden. You daren't draw a sword
on me again for your soul's sake, dear Adrian, for your soul's sake; and
if you dared, I would run you through. Now, are you coming?"</p>
<p>"No," answered Adrian.</p>
<p>"Think a minute. If you don't marry her I shall, and before she is half an
hour older; also—" and he leant forward and whispered into his son's
ear.</p>
<p>"Oh! you devil, you devil!" Adrian gasped; then he moved towards the door.</p>
<p>"What? Changed your mind, have you, Mr. Weathercock? Well, it is the
prerogative of all feminine natures—but, your doublet is awry, and
allow me to suggest that you should brush your hair. There, that's better;
now, come on. No, you go first, if you please, I'd rather have you in
front of me."</p>
<p>When they reached the room below the bride was already there. Gripped on
either side by Black Meg and the other woman, white as death and
trembling, but still defiant, stood Elsa.</p>
<p>"Let's get through with this," growled the half-drunken, ruffian priest.
"I take the willingness of the parties for granted."</p>
<p>"I am not willing," cried Elsa. "I have been brought here by force. I call
everyone present to witness that whatever is done is against my will. I
appeal to God to help me."</p>
<p>The priest turned upon Ramiro.</p>
<p>"How am I to marry them in the face of this?" he asked. "If only she were
silent it might be done——"</p>
<p>"The difficulty has occurred to me," answered Ramiro. He made a sign,
whereon Simon seized Elsa's wrists, and Black Meg, slipping behind her,
deftly fastened a handkerchief over her mouth in such fashion that she was
gagged, but could still breathe through the nostrils.</p>
<p>Elsa struggled a little, then was quiet, and turned her piteous eyes on
Adrian, who stepped forward and opened his lips.</p>
<p>"You remember the alternative," said his father in a low voice, and he
stopped.</p>
<p>"I suppose," broke in Father Thomas, "that we may at any rate reckon upon
the consent, or at least upon the silence of the Heer bridegroom."</p>
<p>"You may reckon on his silence, Father Thomas," replied Ramiro.</p>
<p>Then the ceremony began. They dragged Elsa to the table. Thrice she flung
herself to the ground, and thrice they lifted her to her feet, but at
length, weary of the weight of her body, suffered her to rest upon her
knees, where she remained as though in prayer, gagged like some victim on
the scaffold. It was a strange and brutal scene, and every detail of it
burned itself into Adrian's mind. The round, rude room, with its glowing
fire of turfs and its rough, oaken furniture, half in light and half in
dense shadow, as the lamp-rays chanced to fall; the death-like, kneeling
bride, with a white cloth across her tortured face; the red-chopped,
hanging-lipped hedge priest gabbling from a book, his back almost turned
that he might not see her attitude and struggles; the horrible, unsexed
women; the flat-faced villain, Simon, grinning by the hearth; Ramiro,
cynical, mocking, triumphant, and yet somewhat anxious, his one bright eye
fixed in mingled contempt and amusement upon him, Adrian—those were
its outlines. There was something else also that caught and oppressed his
sense, a sound which at the time Adrian thought he heard in his head
alone, a soft, heavy sound with a moan in it, not unlike that of the wind,
which grew gradually to a dull roar.</p>
<p>It was over. A ring had been forced on to Elsa's unwilling hand, and,
until the thing was undone by some competent and authorised Court, she was
in name the wife of Adrian. The handkerchief was unbound, her hands were
loosed, physically, Elsa was free again, but, in that day and land of
outrage, tied, as the poor girl knew well, by a chain more terrible than
any that hemp or steel could fashion.</p>
<p>"Congratulations! Senora," muttered Father Thomas, eyeing her nervously.
"I fear you felt a little faint during the service, but a sacrament——"</p>
<p>"Cease your mockings, you false priest," cried Elsa. "Oh! let the swift
vengeance of God fall upon every one of you, and first of all upon you,
false priest."</p>
<p>Drawing the ring from her finger, as she spoke she cast it down upon the
oaken table, whence it sprang up to drop again and rattle itself to
silence. Then with one tragic motion of despair, Elsa turned and fled back
to her chamber.</p>
<p>The red face of Father Thomas went white, and his yellow teeth chattered.
"A virgin's curse," he muttered, crossing himself. "Misfortune always
follows, and it is sometimes death—yes, by St. Thomas, death. And
you, you brought me here to do this wickedness, you dog, you galley
slave!"</p>
<p>"Father," broke in Ramiro, "you know I have warned you against it before
at The Hague; sooner or later it always breaks up the nerves," and he
nodded towards the flagon of spirits. "Bread and water, Father, bread and
water for forty days, that is what I prescribe, and——"</p>
<p>As he spoke the door was burst open, and two men rushed in, their eyes
starting, their very beards bristling with terror.</p>
<p>"Come forth!" they cried.</p>
<p>"What has chanced?" screamed the priest.</p>
<p>"The great dyke has burst—hark, hark, hark! The floods are upon you,
the mill will be swept away."</p>
<p>God in Heaven—it was true! Now through the open doorway they heard
the roar of waters, whose note Adrian had caught before, yes, and in the
gloom appeared their foaming crest as they rushed through the great and
ever-widening breach in the lofty dyke down upon the flooded lowland.</p>
<p>Father Thomas bounded through the door yelling, "The boat, the boat!" For
a moment Ramiro thought, considering the situation, then he said:</p>
<p>"Fetch the Jufvrouw. No, not you, Adrian; she would die rather than come
with you. You, Simon, and you, Meg. Swift, obey."</p>
<p>They departed on their errand.</p>
<p>"Men," went on Ramiro, "take this gentleman and lead him to the boat. Hold
him if he tries to escape. I will follow with the lady. Go, you fool, go,
there is not a second to be lost," and Adrian, hanging back and
protesting, was dragged away by the boatmen.</p>
<p>Now Ramiro was alone, and though, as he had said, there was little time to
spare, again for a few moments he thought deeply. His face flushed and
went pale; then entered into it a great resolve. "I don't like doing it,
for it is against my vow, but the chance is good. She is safely married,
and at best she would be very troublesome hereafter, and might bring us to
justice or to the galleys since others seek her wealth," he muttered with
a shiver, adding, "as for the spies, we are well rid of them and their
evidence." Then, with swift resolution, stepping to the door at the foot
of the stairs, Ramiro shut it and shot the great iron bolt!</p>
<p>He ran from the mill; the raised path was already three feet deep in
water; he could scarcely make his way along it. Ah! there lay the boat.
Now he was in it, and now they were flying before the crest of a huge
wave. The dam of the cutting had given altogether, and fed from sea and
land at once, by snow, by rain, and by the inrush of the high tide, its
waters were pouring in a measureless volume over the doomed marshes.</p>
<p>"Where is Elsa?" screamed Adrian.</p>
<p>"I don't know. I couldn't find her," answered Ramiro. "Row, row for your
lives! We can take her off in the morning, and the priest too, if he won
back."</p>
<p>At length the cold winter sun rose over the watery waste, calm enough now,
for the floods were out, in places ten and fifteen feet deep. Through the
mists that brooded on the face of them Ramiro and his crew groped their
way back to where the Red Mill should be. It was gone!</p>
<p>There stood the brick walls of the bottom story rising above the flood
level, but the wooden upper part had snapped before the first great wave
when the bank went bodily, and afterwards been swept away by the rushing
current, swept away with those within.</p>
<p>"What is that?" said one of the boatmen, pointing to a dark object which
floated among the tangled <i>debris</i> of sere weeds and woodwork
collected against the base of the mill.</p>
<p>They rowed to the thing. It was the body of Father Thomas, who must have
missed his footing as he ran along the pathway, and fallen into deep
water.</p>
<p>"Um!" said Ramiro, "'a virgin's curse.' Observe, friends, how the merest
coincidences may give rise to superstition. Allow me," and, holding the
dead man by one hand, he felt in his pockets with the other, till, with a
smile of satisfaction, he found the purse containing the gold which he had
paid him on the previous evening.</p>
<p>"Oh! Elsa, Elsa," moaned Adrian.</p>
<p>"Comfort yourself, my son," said Ramiro as the boat put about, leaving the
dead Father Thomas bobbing up and down in the ripple; "you have indeed
lost a wife whose temper gave you little prospect of happiness, but at
least I have your marriage papers duly signed and witnessed, and—you
are her heir."</p>
<p>He did not add that he in turn was Adrian's. But Adrian thought of it, and
even in the midst of his shame and misery wondered with a shiver how long
he who was Ramiro's next of kin was likely to adorn this world.</p>
<p>Till he had something that was worth inheriting, perhaps.</p>
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