The officer did not think it necessary to undeceive the widow, who imagined that she was to give evidence against Vanslyperken, not that she was a prisoner herself.  Still, the widow Vandersloosh did not like being called up at such an unseasonable hour, and thus expressed herself to Babette as she was dressing herself.

“Well, we shall see the ending of this, Babette.—­My under petticoat is on the chair.—­I told the lords the whole truth, every word of it; and I am convinced that they believed me, too.—­Don’t pull tight all at once, Babette; how often do I tell you that.  I do believe you missed a hole.—­The cunning villain goes there and says that I—­yes, Babette—­that I was a traitor myself; and I said to the lords, ’Do I look like a traitor?’—­My petticoats, Babette; how stupid you are, why, your eyes are half shut now; you know I always wear the blue first, then the green, and the red last, and yet you will give me the first which comes.—­He’s a handsome lord, that Duke of Portland; he was one of the bon—­before King William went over and conquered England, and he was made a lord for his valour.—­My ruff, Babette.  The Dutch are a brave nation.—­My bustle now.—­How much beer did you give the officers?  Mind you take care of everything while I am gone.  I shall be home by nine, I dare say.  I suppose they are going to try him now, that he may be hanged at sunrise.  I knew how it would be.  Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, every dog has his day; and there’s an end of you, and of your cur also, I’ve a notion.”

The widow being now duly equipped, walked down stairs to them, and proceeded with the officers to the Stadt House.  She was brought into the presence of Mynheer Engelback, who held the office of provost.

“Here is the widow Vandersloosh, mynheer.”

“Very well,” replied Engelback, who was in a very bad humour at the unsuccessful search after the conspirators, “away with her.”

“Away! where?” exclaimed the widow.

Engelback did not condescend to make a reply.  The officers were mute; but one stout man on either side seized her arm and led her away, notwithstanding expostulation, and some resistance on her part.

“Where am I going? what is all this?” exclaimed the, widow, terrified; but there was no answer.

At last they came to a door, held open already by another man with a bunch of keys.  The terrified woman perceived that it was a paved stone cell, with a brick arch over it; in short, a dungeon.  The truth flashed upon her, for the first time.  It was she who had been arrested for treason.  But before she could shriek she was shoved in, and the door closed and locked upon her; and the widow sank down into a sitting posture on the ground, overcome with astonishment and indignation.  “Was it possible?  Had the villain prevailed?” was the question, which she asked herself over and over again, changing alternately from sorrow to indignation:  at one time wringing her hands, and at others exclaiming, “Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see.”