Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/254

242 the Duke of Alva as Master Powels van Alblas; Queen Elizabeth as Henry Philipzoon; the King of Denmark as Peter Peterson.

The twelve signs of the zodiac were used to indicate the twelve months of the year, and various other devices, suggested by ingenious minds, were used in this secret correspondence.

While leaving the house of one of these cloth merchants, Conrad Chenoweth was suddenly seized from behind by two powerful ruffians, and his arms pinioned before he could defend himself. He was thrown into prison, and his trial delayed for some weeks until Alva returned from suppressing the rebellion incited by Louis of Nassau.

On the Duke's return Conrad was brought before the Blood Council. Scorning to lie about the papers found concealed about his person, or to betray his relations to the Prince, he was summarily sentenced to death upon the gallows.

And now the last day of his earthly life was drawing to a close, and the twilight was falling. The vesper bells answered each other with silvery chimes, then ceased. The throbbing heart of the city grew still. The darkness and the silence, like something tangible, began to press upon heart and brain. The words which Conrad had often heard his mother repeat, and which formed the bed-rock of her faith, came to him in the gloom: "God will do whatever is best; and His will is always right."