Emma Orczy
Published: 2020-11-15
Total Pages: 292
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Thus am I proved right in saying that but for the conglomeration of minor circumstanceswithin the past half hour, the great events which subsequently linked the fate of a pennilessforeign adventurer with that of a highly honourable and highly esteemed family of Haarlemnever would or could have occurred.For had the three philosophers adhered to their usual custom of retiring to the warmth andcomfort of the "Lame Cow," situate in the Kleine Hout Straat, as soon as the streets nolonger presented an agreeable lolling place, they would never have known of the tumultthat went on at this hour under the very shadow of the cathedral.But seeing it all going on before them, what could they do but join in the fun?The details of the picture which had the low postern gate for its central interest weregradually becoming more defined. Now the figure of a woman showed clearly under theflickering light of the resin torches, a woman with rough, dark hair that hung loosely roundher face, and bare arms and legs, of which the flesh, blue with cold, gleamed weirdly againstthe dark oak panelling of the gate.She was stooping forward, with arms outstretched and feet that vainly tried to keep afoothold of the ground which snow and frost had rendered slippery. The hands themselveswere not visible, for one of them was lost in the shadows behind her and the otherdisappeared in the grip of six or eight rough hands.Through the mist and in the darkness it was impossible to see whether the woman wasyoung or old, handsome or ill-favoured, but her attitude was unmistakable. The men in theforefront of the crowd were trying to drag her away from the shelter of the gate to whichshe clung with desperate obstinacy.Her repeated cries of "For the love of Christ!" only provoked loud and bibulous laughter.Obviously she was losing her hold of the ground, and was gradually being dragged out intothe open."For the love of Christ, let me go, kind sirs!"