A Night on the Veluwe
The soldier of fortune who married Gilda, now a target of Stoutenburg's vengeance.
II
The rider lost on the Veluwe, struggling with his horse and the cold, trying to find his way to Amersfoort.
III
The solitary horseman who loses his way upon the Veluwe.
IV
Mentioned as the friend of Pythagoras and the groom-to-be in the wedding with Gilda Beresteyn.
V
Referred to as the obscure soldier of fortune who married Gilda, inciting Stoutenburg's jealousy.
The Double Wedding
Restless and impatient at the wedding feast, longing to escape with Gilda; booted and spurred, ready to leave.
II
The other bridegroom, a stranger known as Diogenes or possibly Sir Percy Blakeney, wears riding boots and spurs to the wedding; formerly a penniless soldier of fortune.
III
Reveals his new identity as Sir Percy Blakeney; expresses deep love for Gilda; worries about Pythagoras's disappearance.
IV
Notices the Stadtholder's collapse, offers support, and later leads a rousing toast to Maurice of Nassau and liberty.
V
Frets against wedding conventions, longs to carry Gilda away; seeks the Stadtholder's help to escape the festivities.
VI
Abducts Gilda from the wedding feast, carrying her off on horseback with the Stadtholder's approval.
VII
Holds Gilda, senses a foreboding change as Socrates and Pythagoras arrive, recognizing the call to return to the warpath.
III: The Great Interruption
Listens to Pythagoras's revelation about Stoutenburg's assassination plot; carries his sick friend into the house; later meets Gilda in the small room and urges her to flee to England.
I
Helps Socrates lift Pythagoras off the horse and carries his friend up the stairs; requests the Stadtholder's physician.
II
Watches over his sick friend, grows impatient and restless, longing to leave for Utrecht.
III
He is torn between his love for Gilda and his concern for Pythagoras, showing vulnerability and impatience.
IV
Receives urgent intelligence from Pythagoras about Stoutenburg's assassination plot against the Stadtholder; struggles with patience and foreboding.
V
Advises the Stadtholder on military strategy, renounces his identity as Sir Percy Blakeney, and prepares to ride to Vorden.
VI
Prepares to leave for Vorden and Wageningen on the Stadtholder's business, torn between love and duty.
IV: Adder's Fork
Newly married, rides alone across the Veluwe to deliver the Stadtholder's message to Marquet at Vorden, insisting on solitude despite Nicolaes's company partway.
I
The soldier of fortune, now married to Gilda, sets out alone on a journey across the Veluwe, reluctantly accepting Nicolaes' company as far as Barneveld.
II
The adventurer entrusted with the Stadtholder's orders; rides from Barneveld to Vorden and then to Wageningen.
III
Referenced as Gilda's husband and the stranger who insisted on carrying the Stadtholder's message across the Veluwe; accused by Nicolaes of possible treachery.
A Race for Life
The protagonist, riding as the Stadtholder's messenger across the Veluwe and Ijssel, pursued and forced to swim the river.
I
The protagonist, riding as the Stadtholder's messenger across the Veluwe and Ijssel region.
II
The protagonist, fleeing pursuers while carrying a message to Wageningen; he shoots one attacker and dives into the Ijssel.
III
Braves the icy Ijssel on horseback, then swims after his horse is shot.
A Nest of Scorpions
Absent from the guest-chamber when Gilda seeks him; his whereabouts are unknown, adding to the tension.
IV
Mentioned as the stranger with the happy smile who was sent across the Veluwe for succour but has not returned.
V
The solitary rider she spots approaching from Utrecht, whom she longs to see.
VI
Mentioned as 'my lord' and the missing messenger; Gilda insists she saw him return.
Chapter VII
Has left the house; Gilda believes she saw him entering the town through the Joris Poort, looking exhausted.
A Subtle Traitor
The target of suspicion and attack; struck down by Nicolaes and disappears from the scene.
I
The stranger and soldier of fortune, now suspected of treachery; his past service to the Stadtholder is recalled but dismissed by the assembly.
II
Mentioned by the Stadtholder, but no definite news of his arrival.
III
Approaches through the crowd near the Koppel-poort, leading his exhausted horse, with a three days' growth of beard.
IV
Approaches the Stadtholder, is accused of being an assassin, and is stabbed by Nicolaes, staggering against the steps.
V
Struck down by Nicolaes; his fate is uncertain as he disappears from the scene.
Devil's-Writ
Diogenes is stabbed by Nicolaes but saved by his thick cloak and Socrates' aid; he quickly recovers and leads a chase to rescue the Stadtholder.
I
Returns to Amersfoort after a four-day errand for the Stadtholder, narrowly escaping Nicolaes' treacherous blow.
II
Stabbed by Nicolaes but saved by his cloak; recovers and pursues the Stadtholder.
III
Leads the chase through the city and out into the mist, showing intense vitality and a keen eye for the fleeing Stadtholder and Beresteyn.
IV
Observes the Stadtholder's horse, gives curt orders, then leads the chase toward Ede.
V
One of the three soldiers of fortune who intercept the runaway horse, seizing the bridle and bringing it to a standstill.
VI
Hit by Nicolaes' pistol, he falls from his horse but later shoots the blinded horse to end its suffering.
VII
Stubbornly refuses to leave the hut, feigns drunkenness and daze after being struck, insists the Stadtholder ride to safety.
VIII
Blinded by Nicolaes, sitting alone on the plain, awaiting Pythagoras's return.
Mala Fides
Reported blinded and helpless after the powder attack, no longer a rival to Stoutenburg.
I
The nameless adventurer is blinded by the powder and falls from his horse, now helpless and an object of contemptuous pity.
II
The nameless adventurer who thwarted Stoutenburg; now parted from Gilda and in Stoutenburg's power.
A Prince of Darkness
Diogenes is mentioned as having been blinded by Nicolaes, a revelation that devastates Gilda.
I
Gilda's beloved; she recalls seeing him weary and haggard, and her love for him has become fierce and protective.
III
Diogenes is reported to have been blinded in a pistol accident, but is alive.
IV
Mentioned as sightless and absent; his blinding is the cause of Gilda's anguish.
XI: The Danger-Spoke
Brought before Stoutenburg blind, ragged, and drunk; claims his sight was lost in a scuffle; maintains a detached and good-humored demeanor.
II
Blind and ragged, he is captured by soldiers and brought before Stoutenburg, where he mocks his captor with a sardonic salute.
III
Blind and drunk, brought before Stoutenburg; remains defiant and philosophical.
XII: Tears, Sighs, Hearts
Blind and degraded, he is embraced by Gilda but later pushes her away; causes a distraction by overturning a table.
I
Blind and degraded, he is the object of Gilda's loving comfort; he reaches out to her with a pathetic gesture.
II
Blind and helpless, he stumbles and overturns a table, creating a distraction that allows Gilda to break free from Stoutenburg.
III
Blind and humiliated, he is led away like a captive lion, accepting his fate with philosophical good humor.
XIII: The Stygian Creek
Blind and captive, he is brought before Stoutenburg and later seen singing a ribald song with the soldiers.
I
Blind man removed from Stoutenburg's presence; Gilda's beloved, not present during the supper scene.
III
Blind and degraded, he sings a ribald song while awaiting his fate, becoming the object of Gilda's pity and Stoutenburg's jealousy.
XIV: Treachery
Revealed as the informant who sold the Stadtholder's secrets; now blind and somnolent, snoring while Stoutenburg mocks him.
I
The blind man, pinioned and helpless, shows signs of immense strain but remains inscrutable.
II
The blind, intoxicated vagabond; admired by soldiers for his bravery and spirituality; yawns on the brink of eternity; his love for Gilda is noted.
III
Blind and drunk, he bargains for his life by offering a secret about the Stadtholder in exchange for wine and freedom.
IV
Blind and bound, he bargains for his life by revealing the Stadtholder's plan.
V
Blind and seemingly asleep, but listens intently, unnerving the others; his sightless gaze appears to pierce hidden secrets.
VI
The blind man remains serene and somnolent, snoring loudly, oblivious to the tense plotting around him.
VII
Present but asleep and fettered; accused of betraying the Stadtholder's secrets to Stoutenburg.
XV: The Molen on the Veluwe
Referenced as the dead rival in the banqueting hall; Stoutenburg gloats over his demise.
IV
Mentioned as having reported the spies' information about the molen; his statement is now questioned.
VI
Appears suddenly in the mill, confronts Stoutenburg with a mocking laugh and a dagger, and later escapes through the door to join the battle outside.
XVI: The Final Issue
The Englishman and soldier of fortune, who feigns blindness and orchestrates the plan to capture Stoutenburg, risking his life to save Gilda and the Stadtholder.
I
The Englishman and penniless soldier of fortune, later known as Sir Percy Blakeney; endures extreme hardship, blindness, and betrayal while executing the Stadtholder's orders and seeking to return to Gilda.
II
The young soldier who recovers from temporary blindness and devises a daring plan to rescue Gilda and free Amersfoort.
III
The Englishman, sightless and abject before Stoutenburg, is playing a dangerous game; Gilda supports him.
XVII: The Only World
Diogenes arrives quietly at the molen, takes Gilda into his arms, and experiences profound happiness as she sleeps safely.
II
Finds Gilda asleep, takes her into his arms, and watches over her lovingly.
