Before Mr. Van de Werve’s residence was a compact mass of citizens who seemed impatient at the delay.  Through a sentiment of respect, they were perfectly quiet, speaking in very low tones, and making way to afford a passage through the crowd every time that a cavalier or any notable personage presented himself for admission into the house.

The attraction to the centre of the city must have been very powerful, for the greater part of those who passed neither stopped nor turned their heads.  Some approached, and learning upon inquiry as to the cause of the gathering, that Miss Van de Werve was about to leave for Italy, they immediately resumed their walk, as if the sight of this departure were no equivalent to the imposing spectacle they were going to witness.  A few, however, remained in order to discover the real object of so large a concourse of people.

An old gray-headed peasant, after having listened to the conversation going on among the peasants, recognized in the crowd a man from his own village, who had been residing for some time in the city, near the church of Saint James, and who consequently, he thought, must be better informed than the others in regard to Miss Van de Werve.

He elbowed his way through the crowd until he reached his friend, struck him on the shoulder, and said: 

“What is going on here, Master John, to collect such an assembly?  I heard some one say that Miss Van de Werve was about to leave for Italy.”

“Ah!  Master Stephen,” said the other, “call her Madame Geronimo Deodati.”

“Is she married?”

“One would say, Master Stephen, that our village is at the other end of the world.  Even the children of Antwerp bless this marriage as a striking proof of God’s justice.”

“I did hear, friend John, that God had visibly avenged virtue and punished crime.  The assassin dies by a frightful death, and the victim becomes the husband of the noblest and wealthiest young lady in the marquisate.  Do you know her, Master John?”

“Do I know her?  She passes my house twice every day in going to church.  I furnish the family with bread, and I have frequent opportunities of speaking with this amiable young lady.”

“I would like to see her,” said the old man, “but if I wait, I shall arrive too late at the public square.”

“You need not fear,” replied Master John.  “The executioner’s car will not leave the prison for an hour to come.”

The peasant hesitated as to what he should do.

“Are you sure that the young lady will leave at once?”

“Immediately, Master Stephen.  Mr. Van de Werve urges the departure—­he wishes to be out of the city before the executioner commences his work.”

“Why,” said the peasant, “did they wait until to-day?  In their place I would have gone long ago.”

“Ah!” replied Master John, “here is another evidence of God’s intervention in these terrible affairs.  The vessel which bears them to Italy has been ready to sail for a week.  During all that time the wind blew constantly from the south-west; it changed to the east only last night, so that their departure before was impossible.  But the tide is high now and will commence to ebb at the very hour fixed for the death of the assassin.  You see that God himself willed Mr. Van de Werve to remain here until his vengeance was accomplished.”