The Laughing Cavalier · Chapter
IX: The Painter of Pictures explained
After the night's events, Beresteyn and Stoutenburg discuss their conspiracy and the need to silence Gilda.
What happens
After the night's events, Beresteyn and Stoutenburg discuss their conspiracy and the need to silence Gilda. Stoutenburg persuades Beresteyn to sacrifice his sister for the cause, promising to marry her and protect her honor. Meanwhile, Diogenes, having given up his bed to strangers, spends a cold night and seeks refuge at Frans Hals's studio, where he poses for a painting in exchange for breakfast.
Themes in this chapter
Conspiracy and Rebellion
Beresteyn and Stoutenburg plot to use Gilda as a pawn in their political conspiracy against the Stadtholder.
Love and Sacrifice
Stoutenburg claims to love Gilda and promises to marry her, while Beresteyn sacrifices his sister for the cause.
Art and Patronage
Diogenes poses for Frans Hals in exchange for breakfast, highlighting the relationship between artists and their models.
Characters to notice
- Nicolaes Beresteyn
Agrees to sacrifice his sister Gilda for the conspiracy, believing he is acting for his country and faith.
- Stoutenburg
Persuades Beresteyn to hand over Gilda, pledging to marry her and protect her honor.
- Diogenes
Spends a cold night after giving up his bed, then goes to Frans Hals's studio for breakfast and to pose for a painting.
- Frans Hals
Welcomes Diogenes to his studio, provides breakfast, and prepares to paint him in a fine doublet.
- Mevrouw Hals
In good humor due to recent payments, she provides Diogenes with a hot breakfast but warns him against teaching Frans loose ways.
Key passages
“After this episode Chance had little to do with the further events of this veracious chronicle. Men took their destiny in their own hands and laughed at Fate and at the links of the chain which she had been forging so carefully and so patiently ever since she began the business on the steps of the Stadhuis a few short hours ago.”
From this point, human choices replace chance as the driving force of the story, mocking the fate that had been building since the events at the Stadhuis.
The narrator signals a shift from fate-driven to character-driven events.
“It is only for a few days, Nicolaes, a few days during which I swear to you that—though absent and engaged in the greatest task that any man can undertake on this earth—I swear to you that I will keep watch over Gilda and defend her honour with my life.”
Stoutenburg promises to protect Gilda's honor and life during the short time she will be in his custody.
Stoutenburg's oath to Beresteyn to safeguard Gilda.
“I begin to agree with that bloated puffball Pythagoras, he mused dejectedly once, when an icy wind, blowing straight from the North Sea, drove the falling snow into his boots, and under his collar, and up his sleeves, and nearly froze the marrow in his bones, it is but sorry pleasure to play at being a gentleman.”
Diogenes regrets his chivalrous act of giving up his bed, feeling the harsh cold and questioning the value of acting like a gentleman.
Diogenes reflects on his discomfort after helping strangers.