Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/208

 I must visit his Grace to-morrow morning and obtain an order from him, which will set the maid at liberty. He is a hard person to deal with, but he shall grant my request or my name is not de Cisneros!”

The Duke of Alva was sitting at a table with some charts and writing materials before him. He was in excellent humor, having just crushed an incipient rebellion in Friesland.

An attendant announced that a lady desired to see him.

“Admit her!” said the Duke. An elegant figure swept into the room, dressed in rich yet tasteful garments. As she threw aside her veil the stern features of the Iron Duke relaxed.

“I am highly honored by the presence of Doña de Cisneros,” he said gallantly. “Be seated, my fair countrywoman.”

“I called, your Grace, especially to congratulate you on your signal victory in North Holland, also to join your hosts of admirers in praising the statue which has been reared to commemorate that event.”

It was true that after this victory Alva caused a colossal statue of himself to be erected at Antwerp, with this inscription on the pedestal:

“To Ferdinand Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva, Governor of the Netherlands under Philip the Second: for having extinguished sedition,