All present listened with curiosity to the bold words of the Dean of the Butchers. His voice was clear, and even musical, though with nothing of womanish softness in it. Deconinck's cooler judgment, meanwhile, soon perceived that Breydel's designs would, if executed, only be injurious to the cause, and he answered:
"I will go with you. Master Jan; we will talk over the necessary measures together; but first, you must know that this noble lady is the Lady Matilda, the daughter of Lord Robert de Bethune."
Breydel, in much surprise, threw himself on one knee before Matilda, lifted his eyes to her, and exclaimed:
''Most illustrious lady, forgive me the random speech I have heedlessly used in your presence. Let not the noble daughter of our lord the Lion remember it against me."
"Rise, master!" answered Matilda graciously; "you have said nothing I could take amiss. Your words were inspired by love for our country, and hatred against its enemies. I thank you for your faithful allegiance."
"Gracious Countess," pursued Breydel, rising, "your ladyship can not imagine how bitter are my feelings against the Lilyards and French taxgatherers. Oh, that I could avenge the wrongs of the House of Flanders 1—Oh, that I could! But the Dean of the Clothworkers here is always against me; perhaps he is right, for late is not never; but it is difficult for me to keep back. To-morrow the false Queen Joanna comes to Bruges; but unless God gives me other thoughts than I have now she shall never see France again."
"Master," said Matilda, "will you promise me what I am going to ask of you?"
"Promise you, lady? say rather that you command me, and I will obey. Every word of yours shall be sacred to me, illustrious princess."
"Then I desire of you that you shall do nothing to break the peace while the new princes are in the city."
"So be it," answered Breydel, sorrowfully. "I had rather your ladyship had called upon me to use my arm or my knife; however, it's a long lane that has no turning, and if to-day is for them, to-morrow may be for us."
Then, once more bowing his knee before the princess, he added:
"I beg and pray of you, noble daughter of our Lion, not to forget your servant Breydel, whenever you have need of strong arms and stout hearts. The Butchers' Company will keep their 'gooddays' and knives ready ground for your service."
The maiden started somewhat at an offer which savored so much of blood; but nevertheless she replied in a tone of satisfaction.
"Master," she answered, "I will not forget to make your fidelity known to my lord and father, when God shall restore him to me; for myself, I can not sufficiently express my thanks to you."
The Dean of the Butchers rose, and taking Deconinck by the arm, they went out together. Long after they had left the house this unexpected visit formed a topic of conversation for its inmates.
As soon as the two Deans were in the street Deconinck began:
"Master Jan, you know that the Lion of Flanders has always been the friend of the people; it is therefore our bounden duty to watch over his daughter as a sacred deposit."
'What need of so many words about it?" answered Breydel; "the first Frenchman that dare but look askance at her shall make acquaintance with my cross-knife. But, Master Peter, would it not be the best plan to close the gates, and not let Joanna into the town? All my butchers are ready, the 'good-days' stand behind the doors, and at the first word every Lilyard will be packed to—"
"Beware of any violence!" interrupted Deconinck. "To receive one's prince magnificently is the custom everywhere; that can do no dishonor to the commons. It is better to reserve our strength for occasions of more importance. Our country is at present swarming with foreign troops, and we might very easily get the worst of it."
"But, master, this is terribly slow work! Let us just cut the knot with a good knife, instead of taking all this time to untie it; you understand me."
"I understand you well enough; but that will not do. Caution, Breydel, is the best knife; it cuts slowly, but it never blunts and never breaks. Suppose you do shut the gates, what have you gained then? Listen, and take my word for it. Let the storm go by a little, and things get quiet; let us wait till a part of the foreign troops are gone back to France; let the French and the Lilyards have their own way a little, and then they will be less on their guard."
"No!" cried Breydel, "that must not be! They are already beginning to be insolent and despotic more than enough. They plunder all the country round about, and treat us burghers as though we were their slaves."
"So much the better, Master Jan! so much the better."
"So much the better! what do you mean by that? Say, master, have you turned your coat? and do you mean to use your fox's wit to betray us? I know not, but it seems to me that yOu begin to smell very strong of lilies!"
"No, no, friend Jan! but just bethink you, that the more there is to irritate, the nearer is the day of deliverance. If they cloaked their doings a little, and ruled with any show of justice, the mass of the people would sit down quietly under the yoke till they grew accustomed to it; and then, adieu, once for all, to our hard-won liberties! Know that despotism is freedom's nursing-mother.
If, indeed, they ventured to make any attempt upon the privileges of our town, then I should be the first to exhort you to resistance; but even then not by means of open force—there are other means surer and better than that."
"Master," said Jan
