"Consider well before having those precious documents burnt,
John!"

"I consider, above all things, that the brothers De Witt
must necessarily save their lives, to be able to save their
character. If we are dead, who will defend us? Who will have
fully understood our intentions?"

"You expect, then, that they would kill us if those papers
were found?"

John, without answering, pointed with his hand to the
square, whence, at that very moment, fierce shouts and
savage yells made themselves heard.

"Yes, yes," said Cornelius, "I hear these shouts very
plainly, but what is their meaning?"

John opened the window.

"Death to the traitors!" howled the populace.

"Do you hear now, Cornelius?"

"To the traitors! that means us!" said the prisoner, raising
his eyes to heaven and shrugging his shoulders.

"Yes, it means us," repeated John.