_D’Eglantiers._ Tut! tut! all you’ve got to do is to submit—it doesn’t matter to whom. That’s not your business.
_Nicolaas._ Then I vote against such an absurdity.
_The Schoolmaster and others._ So do I! so do I!
_D’Eglantiers._ I shall put you under arrest if you don’t vote as I tell you.
_Nicolaas._ Is that what you understand by liberty?
_D’Eglantiers._ You are at liberty to talk as much as you like, but you must vote as I wish.
_Nicolaas._ I thought you were more liberal than that, Captain!
_D’Eglantiers._ I can’t waste time arguing with you. [_Takes the proclamation out of his pocket._] Here’s my manifesto. Let the Burgomaster read it out loud.
_Michiel._ Silence! Let every one listen! (_Reads._) “Proclamation,—We, Captain D’Eglantiers——”
_D’Eglantiers._ That’s me, standing here.
_Michiel_ (_reads_). “And Lieutenant Taelinck——”
_Taelinck._ Here’s the man you’re reading about, _compère!_
_Michiel._ “To all that shall read these presents, salutation! salutation!” (_Bows._)
_Michiel_ (_reads_). “Citizens! a Dutch army, ten thousand strong, is marching on this village!” What’s this?
_D’Eglantiers._ That’s not on the paper, you scoundrel!
_Michiel._ It is there—read for yourself!
_D’Eglantiers._ Then it’s a forged document—_parbleu!_
_Pluckx_ (_examines the paper_). It’s signed by you and the Lieutenant, sir.
_Michiel_ (_reads_). “As I am not in a position, with the forces at my disposal, to withstand so powerful an enemy, I hope you will not take it ill of me if I beat a retreat——”
_Michiel_ (_reads_). “Within a quarter of an hour!”
_D’Eglantiers._ What sort of an infernal thing is this? [_Snatches the paper out of Michiel’s hand. Aside to Taelinck._] Yes, indeed, there’s my mark!
_D’Eglantiers._ Then the girl has cheated us!
_Pluckx._ If ten thousand men are marching on us, the best thing we can do is to march off in the other direction.
_Michiel._ Yes, we’ll escort them in in triumph!
[_All the Notables, and the majority of the Volunteers, leave the house._]
_D’Eglantiers._ What the——! What are you doing! Stay here! It’s all a swindle!
_Enter_ MARIA, _with_ VAN WERVE _and_ CLARA, _disguised as_ _peasants_.
_Maria._ Captain, here are my sister and my uncle, who——
_D’Eglantiers._ Here! you child of Satan! I’ll sister and uncle you! What sort of a paper is this that you’ve written? Come, now!