Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-03
EIGHTEENTH INsTALLMENT.

THE Governor of Middelburg dis
pensed that day an expeditions
justice. Long before nightfall
the four burgherS impeached of
SeditiouS activities mad been
sentenced by him to be hanged. And
he let it be known that Philip Danvelt,
whose trial was postponed for a further
investigation of the evidence, would, no
doubt, be sentenced in time to mount
the gallows also.
But Danvelt's case was exercising
him. He had been confident chat some
evidence discriminating Danvelt would
be found. But all his efforts had drawn
so blank that he seriously began to
ask himself if it might not be that
Philip Danyelt was innocent, and that
the discriminating letter which he held
was from some other Danvelt than this.
He came to think that, If this we're not
have brought him letters so that ne
might compare the hands. He might
have resolved the doubt by making the
comparison as she had begged him. He
refrained precisely because he feared
that the comparison would establish
Danvelt's innocence. And he wanted
no proofs of that at present.
To his aid in his quandary came
that emissary of Satan, the Fool, enter
ing the great hall abruptly. Rhynsault
took counsel with him. The Fool
smiled inscrutably.
Faith, the course of true love never
did run smooth"
"Lovel" beloved the governor
what has love to do with it?'
IF love had naught to do with it.
there would be no difficulty. It's like
cough. 1t can't be hid. The other
difficulty is that you are n man OF
your word. Having informed Mistress
Danvelt that falling certain amiabil-
tiles her husband will hang !"
Whats that? Was your ear to the
keyhole?"
my wits are my ears. and they are
ever at the keyhole of the world II
is thus that / am informed that you
are perplexed because, II Danvelt were
hanged and afterward proved innocent
the thing would have its awkwardness
The duke is at times unreasonable
He takes narrow views of such adven-
lures as the one that is now allurine
| you"
The governor raised his hand and
drove a blow at the fool. Kuon
ducSed to avoid it.
Hold your handi" he cried. Your
course is SIMPLE. All you need to do Is
to establish Danvelts guilt"
But that's the difficulty"
The fool shook his head SLOWLY
you've rack and thumb-screws and al
the other implements for the extraction
of truth. Extract it from Danvelt
himself"
Rhynsauit banged the table with
his fist.
II should have thought of It'll" he
exclaimed. He summoned Diesenhofer
issued his commands, and went pre-
sently below to see them executed. The
fool went with him, to crafty the fera
thirst that wss a part of his warped
nature. Into that vaulted underground
chamber with its instruments of torture
they brought Danvelt to be racked
ostensibly because he was conceived
guilty of Sedition, in reality because he
was the husband. Of a beautiful and
chaSte woman.
Not only did he persist in denial, but
he protested against the measures
being taken with him, urging that there
was no evidence to justify it, and that
such evidence as was urged could easily
be proved no evidence at all. He was
man of strong thews and great physi-
cal vigor, and he had the hardy
courage usually accompanying these
with denial until he lost consciousness
They rested him. for 48 hours, and
then stretched him on the rack. His
body, MANNED already, turned traitor to
his will. To win respite he returned at
last the required affirmative to that
reiterated question: do you confess to
having written a letter to the convicted
traitor, Thomas Tegel, in which you
offered to supply arms and money for
the projected rising against the govern
ment of the dukes highness?"
The secretary took down his answer.
He was removed from the rack and
carried back to his prison. On the
morrow they brought him the confess
sion in written form that he might
ratify it. as was by law required. He
refused to do so. and was racked again.
This time he yielded, and, when the
confession was again put before him,
signed 1t, and so signed away his life.
And in those four days Mistress
Johanna, to the governors deep sur
prise and disappointment, had made no
sign. Three days longer Rhynsault
waited, then. on the seventh, Danvelt
was put upon his public trial, con-
fronted with his confession, which
made the calling and examination of
witnesses supererogatory, and sentenced
TO death, the sentence to be carried out
upon the following morning.
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