Arthur O'Leary: His Wanderings And Ponderings In Many Lands. Lever Charles James

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СКАЧАТЬ were dogs!” said he, spitting out.

      “Ah!” said I, “the French were better then?”

      “Wolves!” ejaculated he, after glowing on me fearfully.

      There was a long pause after this; I perceived that I had taken a wrong path to lead him into conversation, and he was too deeply overcome with indignation to speak. During this time, however, his anger took a thirsty form, and he swigged away at the schiedam most manfully.

      The effect of his libations became at last evident, his great green stagnant eyes flashed and flared, his wide nostrils swelled and contracted, and his breathing became short and thick, like the convulsive sobs of a steam-engine when they open and shut the valves alternately; I watched these indications for some time, wondering what they might portend, when at length he withdrew his pipe from his mouth, and with such a tone of voice as he might have used, if confessing a bloody and atrocious murder, he said —

      “I will tell you a story.”

      Had the great stone figure of Erasmus beckoned to me across the marketplace, and asked me the news “on change,” I could not have been more amazed; and not venturing on the slightest interruption, I refilled my pipe, and nodded sententiously across the table, while he thus began.

      CHAPTER III. VAN HOOGENDORP’S TALE

      It was in the winter of the year 1806, the first week of December, the frost was setting in, and I resolved to pay a visit to my brother, whom I hadn’t seen for forty years; he was burgomaster of Antwerp. It is a long voyage and a perilous one, but with the protection of Providence, our provisions held out, and on the fourth night after we sailed, a violent shock shook the vessel from stem to stern, and we found ourselves against the quay of Antwerp.

      When I reached my brother’s house I found him in bed, sick; the doctors said it was a dropsy, I don’t know how that might be, for he drank more gin than any man in Holland, and hated water all his life. We were twins, but no one would have thought so, I looked so thin and meagre beside him.

      Well, since I was there, I resolved to see the sights of the town; and the next morning, after breakfast, I set out by myself, and wandered about till evening. Now there were many things to be seen – very strange things too; the noise, and the din, and the bustle, addled and confused me; the people were running here and there, shouting as if they were mad, and there were great flags hanging out of the windows, and drums beating, and, stranger than all, I saw little soldiers with red breeches and red shoulder-knots, running about like monkeys.

      “What is all this?” said I to a man near me.

      “Methinks,” said he, “the burgomaster himself might well know what it is.”

      “I am not the burgomaster,” quoth I, “I am his brother, and only came from Rotterdam yesterday.”

      “Ah! then,” said another, with a strange grin, “you didn’t know these preparations were meant to welcome your arrival.”

      “No,” said I; “but they are very fine, and if there were not so much noise, I would like them well.”

      And so, I sauntered on till I came to the great Platz, opposite the cathedral – that was a fine place – and there was a large man carved in cheese over one door, very wonderful to see; and there was a big fish, all gilt, where they sold herrings; but, in the town-hall there seemed something more than usual going on, for great crowds were there, and dragoons were galloping in and galloping out, and all was confusion.

      “What’s this?” said I. “Are the dykes open?”

      But not one would mind me; and then suddenly I heard some one call out my name.

      “Where is Van Hoogendorp?” said one; and then another cried, “Where is Van Hoogendorp?”

      “Here am I,” said I; and the same moment two officers, covered with gold lace, came through the crowd, and took me by the arms.

      “Come along with us, Monsieur de Hoogendorp,” said they, in French; “there is not a moment to lose; we have been looking for you every where.”

      Now, though I understand that tongue, I cannot speak it myself, so I only said “Ja, Ja,” and followed them.

      They led me up an oak stair, and through three or four large rooms, crowded with officers in fine uniforms, who all bowed as I passed, and some one went before us, calling out in a loud voice, “Monsieur de Hoogendorp!”

      “This is too much honour,” said I, “far too much;” but as I spoke in Dutch, no one minded me. Suddenly, however, the wide folding-doors were flung open, and we were ushered into a large hall, where, although above a hundred people were assembled, you might have heard a pin drop; the few who spoke at all, did so, only in whispers.

      “Monsieur de Hoogendorp!” shouted the man again.

      “For shame,” said I; “don’t disturb the company;” and I thought some of them laughed, but he only bawled the louder, “Monsieur de Hoogendorp!”

      “Let him approach,” said a quick, sharp voice, from the fireplace.

      “Ah!” thought I, “they are going to read me an address. I trust it may be in Dutch.”

      They led me along in silence to the fire, before which, with his back turned towards it, stood a short man, with a sallow, stern countenance, and a great, broad forehead, his hair combed straight over it. He wore a green coat with white facings, and over that a grey surtout with fur. I am particular about all this, because this little man was a person of consequence.

      “You are late, Monsieur de Hoogendorp,” said he, in French; “it is half-past four;” and so saying, he pulled out his watch, and held it up before me.

      “Ja!” said I, taking out my own, “we are just the same time.”

      At this he stamped upon the ground, and said something I thought was a curse.

      “Where are the Echevins, monsieur?” said he.

      “God knows,” said I; “most probably at dinner.”

      “Ventrebleu!– ”

      “Don’t swear,” said I. “If I had you in Rotterdam, I’d fine you two guilders.”

      “What does he say?” while his eyes flashed fire. “Tell La grande morue, to speak French.”

      “Tell him I am not a cod fish,” said I.

      “Who speaks Dutch here?” said he. “General de Ritter, ask him where are the Echevins, or, is the man a fool?”

      “I have heard,” said the General, bowing obsequiously – “I have heard, your Majesty, that he is little better.”

      “Tonnerre de Dieu!” said he; “and this is their chief magistrate! Maret, you must look to this to-morrow; and as it grows late now, let us see the citadel at once; he can show us the way thither, I suppose”; and with this he moved forward, followed by the rest, among whom I found myself hurried along, no one any longer paying me the slightest respect, or attention.

      “To the citadel,” said one.

      “To the citadel,” cried СКАЧАТЬ