"It seems to me," answered John Borluut, "that what we have most to deprecate is too great haste. The men of Bruges may be ready, and even now in arms; but in the other cities things are by no means so forward as yet. For my part, I should gladly see the day of vengeance postponed awhile, that we might collect larger reenforcements for ensuring it. Be assured that a vast number of Lilyards, those bastard sons of Flanders, will flock to the French standard. We must remember that it is the liberty of our country which is at stake, and that, too, on a single die; for if we throw away our present chance we shall hardly get another.
Once fail, and all we can do is to hang up our arms and quietly submit."
As the noble Borluut was universally famed for his skill and experience in war, his speech made a deep impression upon many of his hearers, John of Namur among the rest. Guy, on the other hand, was strongly opposed to the view he took of things.
"But bethink you, sirs," he passionately exclaimed, "that each hour of delay is an hour of suffering for my poor aged father, and for so many of our unhappy kindred; think what my glorious brother Robert is now enduring! he that could not brook even the suspicion of affront or wrong, and whom we are leaving to wear out his life in bondage, to our own eternal disgrace and shame! Do not our captive brothers call to us from their dungeons, asking us what we have done with our swords, and whether this be the way in which we acquit ourselves of our knightly duty? And what answer can we give them? None! none but the blush of shame! No! I will wait no longer! The sword is drawn! never shall it reenter the scabbard until it has drunk deep of the blood of our foes! I hope that our noble cousin of Juliers agrees with me in this resolution."
"The sooner the better, it seems to me," responded William of Juliers; "we have looked on long enough at the injuries done to our house; longer than it were meet or manly to do without attempting either help or vengeance. I have put on my harness, and will not lay it off till the need for it is over. I go hand and heart with my cousin Guy; and no procrastination for me!"
"But, noble sirs," resumed John Borluut, "allow me to observe that we all need time to get our forces on foot, especially if we are to avoid giving the alarm to the enemy. If you hurry on your rising prematurely, you will lose the aid we might otherwise afford you. I only repeat to you what Sir John of Renesse has just been saying to me."
"It will be absolutely impossible for me," observed the knight thus appealed to, "to have my vassals under arms in less than a fortnight; and I can not but earnestly conjure the Lords Guy and William to acquiesce in the views which the noble Borluut has just expressed. Besides, we must remember that the German men-at-arms whom we expect can hardly be brought into the field without some delay. What say you. Master Deconinck?"
"So far as the words of so humble a subject as myself can be of any weight with the princes, I would endeavor to persuade them to act for the present with caution and prudence. The number of fugitives from Bruges will certainly increase, and will necessarily betake themselves to our camp; in the meanwhile, these noble gentlemen will have time to assemble their vassals, and the Lord William of Juliers to return with his menat-arms from Germany."
The black knight did not seem to share the opinions expressed by the last speakers, to judge at least by the significant movements of his head, which were plainly indicative of dissent; but though evidently laboring under a great desire to speak, he still preserved an unbroken silence. At last, the Lords Guy and William, finding the rest unanimouSx against them, gave way; and it was eventually decided that Deconinck, with the men of Bruges, should encamp at Damme and Ardenburg; while William of Juliers should bring up his forces from Germany, and Guy, the younger, his brother's troops from Namur. John of Renesse agreed to set out for Zeeland, and the others each to his own lordship, to make things ready for a general rising.
But at the mom.ent that they were exchanging their parting greetings, the black knight made signs to detain them:
"Noble sirs!" he began.
At the first sound of his voice all present started, and each looked hastily round upon the next; as if to see whether he could read his own thought upon his neighbor's countenance. While the others were interrogating each other's looks, Guy rushed forward and exclaimed:
"Oh, blessed hour! my brother! my dearest brother! his voice penetrates my inmost heart!"
Thus saying, he quickly plucked the helmet from the head of the disguised knight, while he clasped
