EnterTaelinck.
EnterTaelinck.
EnterTaelinck.
Taelinck.You’re up early, Captain?
D’Eglantiers.Yes, yes, good-morning! (Looking sideways at the portmanteau.) May the devil——
Taelinck.It seems to me you’ve been looking out for yourself already. Was the portmanteau quite empty like that?
D’Eglantiers(somewhat embarrassed). Well, there wasn’t much in it.
Taelinck.You’re not a man of your word, Captain! You promised that we should share and share alike, whatever was in it.
D’Eglantiers.When there is nothing, there’s nothing to share; do you hear?
Taelinck.You might at least have waited to open it till I was there.
D’Eglantiers.Lieutenant, you’re becoming insolent; you’re forgetting discipline!
Taelinck.I shall let the General know that you keep all the loot to yourself.
D’Eglantiers.There stands the girl,—ask; let hertémoignerwhether there was anything in it but——
Maria.But eight linen shirts, which the Captain gave me to put away in the cupboard. Shall I get them out, Captain?
D’Eglantiers.Yes, yes,—here’s the key! (Aside.) That’s a little jewel of a girl!
[Maria opens the cupboard, and takes out a pile of shirts, which she drops on the floor. While the two officers are busy picking them up, she hides the bonds under her apron.]
Maria.There they are,—eight of them!
Taelinck.That’s five for me,—but was there nothing more?
Maria.Nothing. [She locks the cupboard, and returns the key to D’Eglantiers.]
D’Eglantiers(aside to Maria). If I ever get into the Government, I’ll see that you have a pension.
Maria.I should like to ask you something, sir. First, about the landlord,—my master, you know,—the man you took prisoner yesterday, and who is in that room; will you set him free again?
D’Eglantiers.H’m! h’m! a rebel like that? but, since you ask it ... well, go and fetch him!
Maria.And in the second place, will you let my sister and my uncle, who are sleeping here, go back to their own village undisturbed?
D’Eglantiers.Where do they live?
Maria.Why ... not very far off.
D’Eglantiers.Well, if they lived at the other end of nowhere, I should let them go, since it is you that ask it!
Maria.Very good; I’ll go at once and tell them.
[Exit.
D’Eglantiers(aside). That’s the right sort of girl! she’s saved me from all my anxiety.
Taelinck(aside). I don’t feel anything like easy about that affair of the cupboard!
EnterNicolaas.
EnterNicolaas.
EnterNicolaas.
Nicolaas.Captain, the maid tells me you have given orders for my release.
D’Eglantiers.Yes; because that girl asked me, I’ve let you go, but mind what you’re about next time. The council is going to assemble here, and you may vote with the rest, because I want liberty to flourish.
EnterPluckx.
EnterPluckx.
EnterPluckx.
Pluckx.Captain! here’s the council; are you ready for them?
D’Eglantiers.Yes, yes, let them come; but,—I tell you what,—let ten or a dozen of our men come in too, so as to maintain full liberty during the discussions; do you hear?
Pluckx.Very good, Captain.
[Pluckx goes out, and returns with the principal men of the village, headed by Michiel, as Burgomaster, and some Volunteers.]
Nicolaas(to Michiel). What in the devil’s name are you doing here? Look alive, and get to the stables!
Michiel.Why, master, are you there? That’s lucky. I’ll have you for my man-of-all-work, master!
Nicolaas.Why, man, are you gone wrong in your head? or——
Michiel.Not at all! The Captain here has made me Burgomaster of the village;—so you see, sir, that things look very bad for you.
D’Eglantiers.Silence! The council is going to be opened, and every one is to sit down.
[The “Notables,” with Michiel in their midst, sit down in a circle, while D’Eglantiers takes his place at a table, with Taelinck by his side.]
D’Eglantiers.Theséancemust be public, as is the proper thing for all liberal governments.
Nicolaas.Of course—so that every one can hear the nonsense that is talked.
D’Eglantiers.Therefore, Pluckx, open the door; but don’t let every one in, or the room will be overcrowded, you understand?
Nicolaas.A very wise precaution!
[The front door and shutters are opened. It is daylight.]
D’Eglantiers.Citizens! in the name of the Government, I offer youla liberté,les lumières,et l’ordre légal. Do you understand that?
The Schoolmaster.It seems to mean the same thing as freedom, enlightenment, and law and order.
Nicolaas(standing up). Surely, sir, it is scarcely necessary to give us what we have possessed for a long time already!
D’Eglantiers.Silence! I bring you liberty in all things,—no more coercion,—no more monopoly! Education and trade are free. Is there a school here?
The Schoolmaster.Certainly, sir, the Society for National Education—
D’Eglantiers.Done away with! Abolished! The parents are free from henceforth, and, as a natural consequence, the children also. No more schools; at any rate, none of the National Education Society’s!
Nicolaas.That I am quite willing to believe.
D’Eglantiers.Silence! Is there any factory in thiscommune?
Nicolaas.There are six, in which hundreds of people earn their living.
D’Eglantiers.Monopoly must be abolished. Every one ought to be allowed freely to make what he likes. Therefore all the factories must be sacked.
Nicolaas.The factories sacked? Is that the freedom you are bringing us? (Turning to the Notables.) And you are going to allow this? (Confusion in the meeting.)
D’Eglantiers.Silence!Volontaires!the first man that contradicts, you are to shoot through the head. Otherwise free discussion becomes an impossibility.
[The Volunteers take aim.]
Michiel(quaking with terror). Of course—the Cap—Captain is right. The—(in confusion)—the factories must take his word for it. What a kind amiable man the Captain is! Long live the Captain!
D’Eglantiers.All the ready money in the village must at once be placed in my hands, in order to clothe my valiant troops.
Nicolaas.They can take care of themselves in that respect (Points at Pluckx.)
D’Eglantiers.All the wine and provisions in the place must be presented to my troops as a voluntary gift.
Nicolaas.Anything else?
D’Eglantiers.All swords, guns, knives, spades, axes, pickaxes, ploughshares—in short, all iron tools must be handed over to me.
Nicolaas.He’s not hard to please,heisn’t.
D’Eglantiers.And the council is to deliberate whether it would not be well to send in an address declaring their submission to the Government.
Michiel.A very good idea.
Nicolaas.I should like to say a word.
D’Eglantiers.Speak up!
Taelinck.He can’t speak. He is only the ex-Burgomaster; he is not entitled to a share in the proceedings.
D’Eglantiers.Never mind—let him speak as one not entitled.
Nicolaas.If I may speak without danger, I should like to ask whatisthe Government that we are to submit to? I havealready heard some half-dozen sovereigns mentioned; and really I should not be surprised if you had offered the crown to a Chinese mandarin.
D’Eglantiers.Tut! tut! all you’ve got to do is to submit—it doesn’t matter to whom. That’s not your business.
Nicolaas.Then I vote against such an absurdity.
The Schoolmaster and others.So do I! so do I!
D’Eglantiers.I shall put you under arrest if you don’t vote as I tell you.
Nicolaas.Is that what you understand by liberty?
D’Eglantiers.You are at liberty to talk as much as you like, but you must vote as I wish.
Nicolaas.I thought you were more liberal than that, Captain!
D’Eglantiers.I can’t waste time arguing with you. [Takes the proclamation out of his pocket.] Here’s my manifesto. Let the Burgomaster read it out loud.
Michiel.Silence! Let every one listen! (Reads.) “Proclamation,—We, Captain D’Eglantiers——”
D’Eglantiers.That’s me, standing here.
Michiel(reads). “And Lieutenant Taelinck——”
Taelinck.Here’s the man you’re reading about,compère!
Michiel.“To all that shall read these presents, salutation! salutation!” (Bows.)
D’Eglantiers and Taelinck.Salutation!
Michiel(reads). “Citizens! a Dutch army, ten thousand strong, is marching on this village!” What’s this?
D’Eglantiers.That’s not on the paper, you scoundrel!
[General consternation.]
Michiel.It is there—read for yourself!
D’Eglantiers.Then it’s a forged document—parbleu!
Pluckx(examines the paper). It’s signed by you and the Lieutenant, sir.
All.Go on! go on!
Michiel(reads). “As I am not in a position, with the forcesat my disposal, to withstand so powerful an enemy, I hope you will not take it ill of me if I beat a retreat——”
All.Well, now!
Michiel(reads). “Within a quarter of an hour!”
Nicolaas.A pleasant journey to you!
D’Eglantiers.What sort of an infernal thing is this? [Snatches the paper out of Michiel’s hand. Aside to Taelinck.] Yes, indeed, there’s my mark!
Taelinck.And mine, too!
D’Eglantiers.Then the girl has cheated us!
Pluckx.If ten thousand men are marching on us, the best thing we can do is to march off in the other direction.
Nicolaas.And we will go to meet them.
Michiel.Yes, we’ll escort them in in triumph!
[All the Notables, and the majority of the Volunteers, leave the house.]
D’Eglantiers.What the——! What are you doing! Stay here! It’s all a swindle!
EnterMaria,withVan WerveandClara,disguised aspeasants.
EnterMaria,withVan WerveandClara,disguised aspeasants.
EnterMaria,withVan WerveandClara,disguised aspeasants.
Maria.Captain, here are my sister and my uncle, who——
D’Eglantiers.Here! you child of Satan! I’ll sister and uncle you! What sort of a paper is this that you’ve written? Come, now!
Maria(aside). The fat’s in the fire now, and no mistake!
D’Eglantiers.Answer me! what sort of a paper is it?
Maria.Why, sir, haven’t you read it?
D’Eglantiers.I’ve heard it read, and——
Maria.Did you let it go out of your own hands?
D’Eglantiers.Insolent, too? Who’s asking questions, you or I?
Maria.A word in confidence, Captain? [Draws him aside.] Don’t you understand?—that was a trick of mine to——
D’Eglantiers.A trick?—a fine trick! I’ll——
Maria.Hush! hush! do! I knew that the Dutch troops were coming, and in order to let you know it privately I wrote it down on that paper. I hoped you would read it by yourself, and then act as circumstances might demand.
D’Eglantiers.Well—in that case! But it is strange, though——
EnterPluckx.
EnterPluckx.
EnterPluckx.
Pluckx.Captain, it’s time for you to show yourself. Half of our men want to leave, and the villagers are beginning to arm!
D’Eglantiers.What the——[Breaks off, and looks towards the cupboard.] I must get hold of my bonds first. Lieutenant Taelinck, go on. I’ll follow immediately.
Taelinck(also looking at the cupboard). Aren’t you coming with us, Captain?
D’Eglantiers.Presently, presently.
[Taelinck goes out slowly, followed by Pluckx. D’Eglantiers runs to the cupboard, opens it, and searches in vain for the packet.]
Maria(aside). What shall I do now? Wait!—I have it.
[Hastens out and comes back with Taelinck.]
Maria(to Taelinck). It is just as I told you—the Captain has been hiding gold and jewels in that cupboard.
Taelinck(comes forward, and taps D’Eglantiers on the shoulder). Well, Captain, what have you got there, say?
D’Eglantiers(surprised). Eh! what?
[Turns round, and seeing Taelinck, hurriedly closes the cupboard.]
Taelinck.You’ve hidden our booty there,—that’s quite clear. Open that door again, and look sharp about it.
D’Eglantiers.What’s the good?—there’s no money in it.
Taelinck.I’ll report you!
D’Eglantiers.I won’t give you the chance! [Draws his sword.]
Taelinck(defends himself). You miserable thief.
[They fight. Van Werve and Clara are about to take the opportunity of escaping, when Pluckx enters with his men.]
Pluckx.What! fighting here? Why, the Hollanders are coming!
D’Eglantiers.What! Where? When?
[Shouts of “Oranje boven!”[29]outside. Van Werve rushes at Taelinck and disarms him.]
Van Werve.Yes!—“Oranje boven!”
Pluckx.Here they come!Sauve qui peut!
[Tries to escape by the front door.]
D’Eglantiers.Where’s the back door?
Maria(calls after him). Don’t forget your bonds, whatever you do!
[As D’Eglantiers attempts to leave by the back door, Michiel enters, accompanied by several Soldiers, and knocks him down with a pitchfork, while Taelinck is being held by Van Werve. Edeling, Nicolaas, Soldiers, and Armed Villagers enter by the front door, and disarm Pluckx and the rest of the Belgians.]
Michiel.Halt! Captain! you were mistaken after all! “Oranje boven!”
D’Eglantiers.Traitor of a Burgomaster!
Edeling.My Clara!
Michiel.See there! I knew we should catch them.
Nicolaas(to the Dutch leader, pointing at Michiel). Captain, you had better secure this rascal! it was he who brought the rebels here.
Michiel(as he is seized by the Dutch). How! what?—why, I showed you the way myself!
Maria.The pitcher to the well—Michiel!
[The insurgents and Michiel are led away.]
Edeling(seeing Maria). Good-morning, my lass—didn’t I come back to see you, as I said I would? (To the others.) This is the girl who helped me to escape.
Van Werve.She has served us all.
Van Lennep.
Van Lennep.
Van Lennep.
Van Lennep.