The First Sir Percy · Chapter
III: The Great Interruption explained
Diogenes learns from the feverish Pythagoras that Lord Stoutenburg and an accomplice are plotting to assassinate the Stadtholder, having crossed the Ijssel with a force to seize Arnheim and Nijmegen.
What happens
Diogenes learns from the feverish Pythagoras that Lord Stoutenburg and an accomplice are plotting to assassinate the Stadtholder, having crossed the Ijssel with a force to seize Arnheim and Nijmegen. The wedding festivities are interrupted when Pythagoras collapses, and Diogenes carries him into the Beresteyn house. The Stadtholder postpones his departure to allow his English physician to attend the sick man. Later, Diogenes finds Gilda in a small room, where she confesses she was waiting for him, and he urges her to flee with him to England that night.
Themes in this chapter
Honor and Betrayal
Stoutenburg's assassination plot against the Stadtholder represents a betrayal of honor, while Diogenes's loyalty to his friend and to the prince contrasts with this treachery.
Love and Sacrifice
Diogenes delays his elopement with Gilda to care for the sick Pythagoras, and Gilda waits for him, ready to sacrifice her comfort for their love.
Power and Tyranny
Stoutenburg's plot to assassinate the Stadtholder is an attempt to seize power through tyranny, while the Stadtholder's authority is challenged by the conspiracy.
Characters to notice
- Diogenes
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.
- Pythagoras
Feverish and rambling, he reveals that Stoutenburg and an accomplice are planning to assassinate the Stadtholder, and that he was shot in the back on Stoutenburg's orders.
- Gilda Beresteyn
Feels abandoned after the interruption but quickly takes charge; later sings at the virginal and waits for Diogenes, agreeing to flee with him to England.
- Mynheer Beresteyn
Shows the young soldier and his burden up the stairs; later closes the council room door on Nicolaes.
- The Stadtholder
Curious about the commotion; agrees to postpone his departure and allows his English physician to attend Pythagoras; retires to a private room with Beresteyn and other guests.
- Nicolaes Beresteyn
Appears moody and tries to follow his father and the Stadtholder into the private chamber, but is firmly turned away.
- Socrates
Helps lift Pythagoras off the pillion on the quay.
- Kaatje van den Poele
Left pouting and desolate beside her morose bridegroom after the interruption.
Key passages
“It was the Lord of Stoutenburg... I'd stake my life on't! I knew him at once. How could I ever forget his ugly countenance, after all he made you suffer?”
Pythagoras insists that the man he saw was Stoutenburg, whose face is unforgettable because of the suffering he caused Diogenes.
Pythagoras identifies Stoutenburg as the conspirator.
“Stoutenburg hath a project... A damnable project, akin to the one which you caused to abort three months ago.”
Pythagoras reveals that Stoutenburg is planning another assassination attempt, similar to the one Diogenes foiled earlier.
The assassination plot against the Stadtholder is disclosed.
“I was lonely... and waiting for you.”
Gilda confesses she felt alone and was deliberately waiting for Diogenes to come to her.
Gilda expresses her longing for Diogenes.
