Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/243

 shall we do with him? How shall we manage to put him out of the way, and still not have Alva appear to have been a party to his death?”

The Spaniard thought for a few moments.

“You say he has incriminating papers on him? ”

“Yes, he has the plan of the proposed campaign of Louis of Nassau in his pocket.”

“Then he shall die, and that at the hands of the rebels,” replied Vargas.

“Do you think you can manage the affair discreetly? ”’

“Certainly. Your Excellency may safely entrust all details to me,” said Vargas.

“Very well! Then I will dismiss the matter from my mind.”

The next morning the citizens of the capital were electrified by the news that the “Tiger of Brussels” had been foully murdered. His body was found riddled with bullets, and on a paper which was pinned over his breast were these words: “Not as to a Fleming, but as to a traitor and a spy!

The hours which elapsed before Conrad Chenoweth could visit Doña Isidore de Cisneros dragged their slow length along. He vainly wished that the moments would speed faster, but Nature was too wise a mother to alter her times and seasons at the entreaties of anxious lovers. Well she knew that