A Night on the Veluwe
Nicolaes Beresteyn, brother of Gilda, mentioned as having knowledge of the wedding.
V
Nicolaes Beresteyn is mentioned as possibly aware of his sister's marriage and as a former co-conspirator.
The Double Wedding
The host of the wedding, anxious about Diogenes' restless temperament.
I
Mentioned as part of the Beresteyn family, receiving loving glances and greetings from the crowd.
II
Nicolaes Beresteyn, the Burgomaster's only son and bridegroom to Katharina, appears moody despite the advantageous match.
III
Commands wine for the Stadtholder; assists the prince when he falls ill.
III
Pours wine for the Stadtholder; sits moodily beside his bride Kaatje.
IV
Gazes anxiously at the Stadtholder, remaining splendidly loyal to his master.
V
The host and father of the bride; reflects sadly on parting with Gilda and worries about Diogenes' character.
VI
Initially agonized, but gives his blessing after the Stadtholder's urging.
VI
Receives banter sulkily as one of the bridegrooms.
VII
Mentioned as the host whose house the cavaliers claim to be bidden to as guests.
III: The Great Interruption
Shows the young soldier and his burden up the stairs; later closes the council room door on Nicolaes.
III: The Great Interruption
Appears moody and tries to follow his father and the Stadtholder into the private chamber, but is firmly turned away.
I
Shows the young soldier and his burden up the stairs; closes the door on Nicolaes.
III
He is present in the room with the Stadtholder and other grave seigneurs.
V
Supports the Stadtholder's plans, understands Diogenes's sacrifice, and leaves him to bid farewell to Gilda.
VI
Mentioned as the one who will explain the situation more fully to Gilda.
IV: Adder's Fork
Nicolaes's father, who no longer trusts his son and shut him out of the council-chamber, still harboring resentment over the conspiracy.
IV: Adder's Fork
Accompanies Diogenes partway to Barneveld, bitter over his father's mistrust, and later tries to poison Gilda's mind against Diogenes, suggesting treachery.
I
Accompanies Diogenes on the first part of the journey, insisting despite Diogenes' preference for solitude.
II
Nicolaes Beresteyn, embittered by his father's mistrust after his involvement in the conspiracy against the Stadtholder.
III
Returns to Amersfoort late on his wedding night, sullen and irascible; avoids his father's house and confronts his sister Gilda with accusations against her husband.
A Nest of Scorpions
The burgomaster, a patriot focused on the city's defense; he reassures Gilda but prioritizes the nation's peril.
A Nest of Scorpions
Recently returned from camp, he is impatient and mocking toward Gilda, insinuating against her husband's honor.
I
Returns from the camp at Utrecht, delivers the Stadtholder's orders, and displays impatience and a mocking attitude toward his sister Gilda.
II
Present in the hall; his son Nicolaes had conveyed the Stadtholder's orders.
III
Observes his daughter's distress, encourages her with a hand squeeze, then becomes absorbed in the evacuation planning.
III
Gilda's brother, whose gaze is charged with sarcasm and malevolence, causing her distress.
VI
Patriotic burgomaster, torn between duty to country and concern for his daughter; urges Gilda to obey the Stadtholder.
VI
Sneering and hostile toward my lord; dismisses Gilda's claim and urges haste.
Chapter VII
Nicolaes is the source of the spy rumor that has spread through the household, causing Gilda's distress.
A Subtle Traitor
Accuses Diogenes of treachery, manipulates the burghers and Stadtholder, and later strikes Diogenes with a dagger, claiming self-defense.
A Subtle Traitor
Defends Diogenes against his son's accusations but is forced into silence by public opinion and family loyalty.
I
Vehemently accuses Diogenes of treachery, urging the Stadtholder to flee and insinuating that the stranger is a spy in league with De Berg.
I
Defends Diogenes against his son's accusations but is gradually silenced by public opinion and family loyalty.
II
Hurries out and returns with news about the horses and Spanish vedettes; appears excited and anxious to depart.
III
Fretful and impatient, urges the Stadtholder to hurry and warns of an assassin's dagger.
IV
Nicolaes Beresteyn acts with feverish haste, accuses Diogenes of being an assassin, shields the Stadtholder, and stabs Diogenes.
V
Follows Gilda down the steps and supports her after the attack.
V
Strikes Diogenes with a dagger and exultantly claims the miscreant threatened the Stadtholder.
Devil's-Writ
Nicolaes Beresteyn, now fully unmasked as a traitor, resolves to link his fortunes with Stoutenburg and attempts to shoot Diogenes and the Stadtholder with a blinding pistol.
I
Implied as the one who struck Diogenes treacherously, though not directly named in the excerpt.
II
Stabs Diogenes and flees with the Stadtholder.
III
Rides just behind the Stadtholder as they flee toward Utrecht, a tiny speck in the mist.
IV
Nicolaes Beresteyn draws his horse close to the Stadtholder just before the incident.
V
Nicolaes Beresteyn, puzzled and terror-filled, pushing along behind the Stadtholder as his plot unravels.
VI
Nicolaes Beresteyn, the traitor, shoots Diogenes and resolves to join Stoutenburg openly.
VIII
Implied as 'that devil' who blinded Diogenes.
Mala Fides
Returns to Amersfoort as a traitor, confronts his father and sister, and is cursed by his father.
I
Nicolaes Beresteyn arrives at Stoutenburg's camp, reporting the failure of the plan to capture the Stadtholder and the blinding of the Englishman.
III
Nicolaes anticipates facing his outraged father, who is absent from the house but looms in his thoughts as a figure to be defied and mastered.
IV
Greets Stoutenburg at the burgomaster's house and stands by as Stoutenburg gives orders.
V
Referred to as Nicolaes; he is sullen and weak-kneed, shrinking from the ordeal of facing his father, and retreats to the antechamber.
VI
Bound and helpless but maintains dignity, defies Stoutenburg, and demands to stay with his daughter.
VI
Mentioned as having returned to allegiance to the Archduchess Isabella, causing his father to disown him.
VII
Helpless and furious, he is dragged away by Stoutenburg's men after being cursed by his own son.
VII
Appears at the door, is cursed by his father, and responds with a forced laugh.
A Prince of Darkness
Nicolaes confesses to blinding Diogenes, torn between ambition and dormant tenderness for his sister.
I
Gilda's father, who has been dragged away from her side at the start of the chapter.
II
Nicolaes speaks coolly to Gilda and paces nervously.
III
Nicolaes confirms the accident to his sister, showing shame and weakness.
IV
Skulks in the gloom, stammering protests and minimizing his role in the crime.
V
Gilda's brother, who shamefully supports Stoutenburg and urges Gilda to submit for the sake of family and future.
VI
Mentioned as the burgomaster who is to be released by Jan and brought to the supper to bless the union.
VI
Present as Gilda's brother, he obeys Stoutenburg's orders to escort her and arrange the guard of honor.
XI: The Danger-Spoke
Nicolaes urges Stoutenburg to hang Diogenes; is horrified at Diogenes' appearance and collapses into a chair.
I
Watches Gilda's progress up the stairs, half indifferent and half ashamed, then goes back to his friend.
II
Nicolaes Beresteyn advises Stoutenburg on handling Gilda, referencing a play to suggest methods of taming her.
III
Horrified by Diogenes' appearance; collapses into a chair.
XII: Tears, Sighs, Hearts
Protests Stoutenburg's cruelty and supports Gilda, but is powerless to intervene.
I
Protests vigorously as Gilda embraces Diogenes.
II
The burgomaster fiercely opposes Stoutenburg but is powerless; he tries to protect his daughter and denounces Stoutenburg's cruelty.
XIII: The Stygian Creek
Humiliated and torn, he tries to maintain dignity and protect Gilda, but is powerless against Stoutenburg.
XIII: The Stygian Creek
Sycophantic and defiant, he sides with Stoutenburg and ignores his father's contempt.
I
Stands beside Gilda, holding her hand; ignores Diogenes and his son Nicolaes; tastes dishes under duress, flushed with shame.
II
Joins Stoutenburg with lustful shouts, betraying his alignment.
III
Defends Dutch honor against Stoutenburg's taunts, but is silenced by the threat to his daughter; later comforts Gilda.
XIV: Treachery
Stricken by grief and shame upon learning of Diogenes' treachery; struggles with the horror of his son's involvement and the betrayal of his country.
XIV: Treachery
Feels a twinge of remorse at his father's grief and Gilda's misery; haunted by memories and the shadows of his crime.
I
The burgomaster is tortured with doubts about the blind man's loyalty and suspects him of betrayal.
II
Disappears upstairs with Gilda; later consulted by Stoutenburg, remains taciturn and gloomy.
IV
Present during the interrogation, shares in the conspirators' triumph.
V
Interjects that Diogenes' story seems credible, recalling the Stadtholder's visit to Amersfoort; restrains Stoutenburg's savage instincts.
VI
Paces nervously, peering into the darkness for Jan's return, sharing the tense wait with Stoutenburg.
VII
Stricken with horror and shame upon learning of Diogenes' treachery; summoned again by Stoutenburg.
VII
Feels remorse at his father's grief and Gilda's misery; questions Diogenes' fate.
VIII
Nicolaes Beresteyn, tormented by guilt, cannot endure darkness and hears Stoutenburg's restless pacing; he later recognizes his father's heavy step after the pistol shot.
XV: The Molen on the Veluwe
Mentioned as having locked the banqueting hall; Gilda takes leave of him before departing.
I
Nicolaes Beresteyn is wakeful and restless, overhearing the burgomaster's admonition to Gilda.
II
The burgomaster is mentioned as having apparently decided to hold his tongue about the secret; Gilda has taken final leave of him.
III
Rides on the other side of Gilda's litter.
IV
Nicolaes Beresteyn commands the bulk of Stoutenburg's troop in the gorge below the molen.
VI
Mentioned as being halfway up the slope during the battle, but not directly present in the mill.
I
Nicolaes Beresteyn, the traitor who strikes Diogenes down at the burgomaster's threshold and is implicated in revealing the Stadtholder's plans to de Berg.
III
Nicolaes Beresteyn is the first to fall in battle; his death brings dishonor but is seen as a release.
