The Laughing Cavalier · Chapter 22 (2/2)

“Dondersteen! Dondersteen!” he exclaimed between the several outbursts of irrepressible laughter which shook his powerful frame and brought the tears to his eyes, “Gods in Olympia! have you ever seen the like? Verrek jezelf, my good Hals, you should go straight to Paradise when you die for having brought about this heaven-born situation. Dondersteen! Dondersteen! I had promised myself two or three hours’ sleep, but we must have a bottle of Beek’s famous wine on this first!”

And Frans Hals could not for the life of him understand what there was in this fine situation that should so arouse Diogenes’ mirth.

But then Diogenes had always been an irresponsible creature, who was wont to laugh even at the most serious crisis of his life.