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220 ever gracious and merciful King Philip II, at the earliest opportunity, to obtain this  amount for thee, using every influence in my  power.”

“Will your worship put that down in writing?” inquired Dirk eagerly.

“Certainly, certainly!” replied the general, glad to have made an impression so easily. Dirk hastened out, evidently to obtain pen and paper, and was back again in a jiify. “I have one more request to make,” he remarked in honeyed tones. “As thou wilt!” said Valdez.

“It is that your worship will write at my dictation.”

There was another uneasy pause, and then the general acquiesced, muttering that he did  not have to write anything that he did not  wish!

“I, General Valdez,” dictated Dirk, “Commander of the Spanish army before Leyden, do hereby give my promise that I will intercede with His Majesty, Philip II, to pay over