Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/309

Rh rather to like his new surroundings than otherwise. I had of course, been most anxious to be reunited with my family, and  begged the Prince to free me from my duties  and allow me to join you. He gave a hearty and gracious consent, and I began my  preparations to return to Leyden when the  news of the siege reached me, and I knew that  great and imminent danger threatened you. I left Spain, as I learned later, not a day too soon for my old enemy Dirk Willumhoog had in some way discovered my secret, unearthed  all my past history, and was hot upon a little  scheme of his own.

“Vrouw Voorhaas sent me word,—it was the last I heard from her,—that a man whom  she described as Dirk, called on her one day  when you both were out, informed her that  he knew her secret and who you children  were and all about me. Then he tried to bribe her to give you up to him, offering a  good round sum in gold. When she refused he threatened to get possession of you in