Chapter XXVIII
In which we have at last introduced a decent sort of heroine, who,however, only plays a second in our history, Snarleyyow beingfirst fiddle.
But we must leave Mr Vanslyperken, and the widow, and the _Yungfrau_,and all connected with her, for the present, and follow the steps ofRamsay, in doing which we shall have to introduce new personages in ourlittle drama.
As soon as Ramsay had taken leave of Vanslyperken, being a stranger atAmsterdam, he inquired his way to the Golden Street, in which residedMynheer Van Krause, syndic of the town, and to whom he had obtained hisprincipal letters of introduction. The syndic's house was too wellknown not to be immediately pointed out to him, and in ten minutes hefound himself, with the sailors at his heels who had been ordered tocarry up his baggage, at a handsomely carved door painted in brightgreen, and with knockers of massive brass which glittered in the sun.
Ramsay, as he waited a few seconds, looked up at the house, which waslarge and with a noble front to the wide street in face of it, not, asusual with most of the others, divided in the centre by a canal runningthe whole length of it. The door was opened, and led into a large pavedyard, the sides of which were lined with evergreens in large tubs,painted of the same bright green colour; adjoining to the yard was asmall garden enclosed with high walls, which was laid out with greatprecision, and in small beds full of tulips, ranunculuses, and otherbulbs now just appearing above the ground. The sailors waited outsidewhile the old gray-headed servitor who had opened the gate, usheredRamsay through the court to a second door which led into the house. Thehall into which he entered was paved with marble, and the staircase boldand handsome which led to the first floor, but on each side of the hallthere were wooden partitions and half-glass doors, through which Ramsaycould see that the rest of the basement was appropriated to warehouses,and that in the warehouse at the back of the building there were peoplebusily employed hoisting out merchandise from the vessels in the canal,the water of which adjoined the very walls. Ramsay followed the manupstairs, who showed him into a very splendidly-furnished apartment, andthen went to summon his master, who, he said, was below in thewarehouse. Ramsay had but a minute or two to examine the various objectswhich decorated the room, particularly some very fine pictures, whenMynheer Van Krause made his appearance, with some open tablets in hishand and his pen across his mouth. He was a very short man, with arespectable paunch, a very small head, quite bald, a keen blue eye,reddish but straight nose, and a very florid complexion. There wasnothing vulgar about his appearance, although his figure was againsthim. His countenance was one of extreme frankness, mixed withconsiderable intelligence, and his whole manner gave you the idea ofprecision and calculation.
"You would--tyfel--I forgot my pen," said the syndic, catching it as itfell out of his mouth. "You would speak with me, mynheer? To whom have Ithe pleasure of addressing myself?"
"These letters, sir," replied Ramsay, "will inform you."
Mynheer Van Krause laid his tablets on the table, putting his pen acrossto mark the leaf where he had them open, and taking the letters beggedRamsay to be seated. He then took a chair, pulled a pair of hand-glassesout of his pocket, laid them on his knees, broke the seals, and fallingback so as to recline, commenced reading. As soon as he had finished thefirst letter, he put his glasses down from his eyes, and made a bow toRamsay, folded the open letter the length of the sheet, took out hispencil, and on the outside wrote the date of the letter, the day of themonth, name, and the name of the writer. Having done this, he laid thefirst letter down on the table, took up the second, raised up hisglasses, and performed the same duty towards it, and thus he continueduntil he had read the whole six; always, as he concluded each letter,making the same low bow to Ramsay which he had after the perusal of thefirst. Ramsay, who was not a little tired of all this precision, at lastfixed his eyes upon a Wouvermann which hung near him, and only took themoff when he guessed the time of bowing to be at hand.
The last having been duly marked and numbered, Mynheer Van Krause turnedto Ramsay, and said, "I am most happy, mynheer, to find under my roof ayoung gentleman so much recommended by many valuable friends; moreover,as these letters give me to understand, so warm a friend to our jointsovereign, and so inimical to the Jacobite party. I am informed by theseletters that you intend to remain at Amsterdam. If so, I trust that youwill take up your quarters in this house."
To this proposal Ramsay, who fully expected it, gave a willing consent,saying, at the same time, that he had proposed going to an hotel; butMynheer Van Krause insisted on sending for Ramsay's luggage. He had notfar to send, as it was at the door.
"How did you come over?" inquired the host.
"In a king's cutter," replied Ramsay, "which waited for me atPortsmouth."
This intimation produced another very low bow from Mynheer Van Krause,as it warranted the importance of his guest; but he then rose, andapologising for his presence being necessary below, as they wereunloading a cargo of considerable value, he ordered his old porter toshow Mr Ramsay into his rooms, and to take up his luggage, informing hisguest that, it being now twelve o'clock, dinner would be on the table athalf-past one, during which interval he begged Ramsay to amuse himself,by examining the pictures, books, &c., with which the room was wellfurnished. Then, resuming his tablets and pen, and taking the letterswith him, Mynheer Van Krause made a very low bow, and left Ramsay tohimself, little imagining that he had admitted an attainted traitorunder his roof.
Ramsay could speak Dutch fluently, for he had been quartered two yearsat Middleburg, when he was serving in the army. As soon as the sailorshad taken up his portmanteau, and he had dismissed them with a gratuity,the extent of which made the old porter open his eyes with astonishment,and gave him a favourable opinion of his master's new guest, he enteredinto conversation with the old man, who, like Eve upon another occasion,was tempted, nothing loth, for the old man loved to talk; and in a houseso busy as the syndic's there were few who had time to chatter, andthose who had, preferred other conversation to what, it must beconfessed, was rather prosy.
"Mein Gott, mynheer, you must not expect to have company here all day.My master has the town business and his own business to attend to: hecan't well get through it all: besides, now is a busy time, the schuytsare bringing up the cargo of a vessel from a far voyage, and MynheerKrause always goes to the warehouse from breakfast till dinner, and thenagain from three or four o'clock till six. After that he will stayabove, and then sees company, and hears our young lady sing."
"Young lady! has he a daughter then?"
"He has a daughter, mynheer--only one--only one child--no son, it is apity; and so much money too, they say. I don't know how many stivers andguilders she will have by-and-bye."
"Is not Madame Krause still alive?"
"No, mynheer, she died when this maiden was born. She was a good lady,cured me once of the yellow jaundice."
Ramsay, like all young men, wondered what sort of a person this ladymight be; but he was too discreet to put the question. He was, however,pleased to hear that there was a young female in the house, as it wouldmake the time pass away more agreeably; not that he expected much.Judging from the father, he made up his mind, as he took his clothes outof his valise, that she was very short, very prim, and had ahooked nose.
The old man now left the room to allow Ramsay to dress, and telling himthat if he wanted anything, he had only to call for Koops, which was hisname, but going out, he returned to say, that Ramsay must call ratherloud, as he was a little hard of hearing.
"Well," thought Ramsay, as he was busy with his toilet, "here I am safelodged at last, and everything appears as if it would prosper. There issomething in my position which my mind revolts at, but stratagem isnecessary in war. I am in the enemy's camp to save my own life, and toserve the just cause. It is no more than what they attempt to do withus. It is my duty to my lawful sovereign, but still I do not like it.Then the more merit in performing a duty so foreign to my inclinations."
Such
were the thoughts of Ramsay, who like other manly and daringdispositions, was dissatisfied with playing the part of a deceiver,although he had been selected for the service, and his selection hadbeen approved of at the Court of St Germains.
Open warfare would have suited him better; but he would not repine atwhat he considered he was bound in fealty to perform, if required,although he instinctively shrank from it. His toilet was complete, andRamsay descended into the reception-room: he had been longer than usual,but probably that was because he wished to commune with himself; or itmight be, because he had been informed that there was a young lady inthe house.
The room was empty when Ramsay entered it, and he took the advice of hishost, and amused himself by examining the pictures, and other articlesof _virtu_, with which the room was filled.
At last, having looked at everything, Ramsay examined a splendid clockon the mantelpiece, before a fine glass, which mounted to the very topof the lofty room, when, accidentally casting his eyes to thelooking-glass, he perceived in it that the door of the room, to whichhis back was turned, was open, and that a female was standing there,apparently surprised to find a stranger, and not exactly knowing whetherto advance or retreat. Ramsay remained in the same position, as if hedid not perceive her, that he might look at her without her being awareof it. It was, as he presumed, the syndic's daughter; but how differentfrom the person he had conjured up in his mind's eye, when at histoilet! Apparently about seventeen or eighteen years of age, she wasrather above the height of woman, delicately formed, although not by anymeans thin in her person: her figure possessing all that feminineluxuriance, which can only be obtained when the bones are small, butwell covered. Her face was oval, and brilliantly fair. Her hair of adark chestnut, and her eyes of a deep blue. Her dress was simple in theextreme. She wore nothing but the white woollen petticoats of the time,so short, as to show above her ankles, and a sort of little jacket offine green cloth, with lappets, which descended from the waist, andopened in front. Altogether, Ramsay thought that he had never in hislife seen a young female so peculiarly attractive at first sight: therewas a freshness in her air and appearance so uncommon, so unlike thegeneral crowd. As she stood in a state of uncertainty, her mouth opened,and displayed small and beautifully white teeth.
Gradually she receded, supposing that she had not been discovered, andclosed the door quietly after her leaving Ramsay for a few seconds atthe glass, with his eyes fixed upon the point at which she haddisappeared.
Ramsay of course fell into a reverie, as most men do in a case of thiskind; but he had not proceeded very far into it before he wasinterrupted by the appearance of the syndic, who entered byanother door.
"I am sorry to have been obliged to leave you to your own company,Mynheer Ramsay, so soon after your arrival; but my arrangement of timeis regular, and I cannot make any alteration. Before you have been withus long, I trust that you will find means of amusement. I shall havegreat pleasure in introducing you to many friends whose time is not sooccupied as mine. Once again let me say how happy I am to receive sodistinguished a young gentleman under my roof. Did the cutter bringdespatches for the States General, may I enquire?"
"Yes," replied Ramsay, "she did; and they are of some importance."
"Indeed?" rejoined Mynheer inquisitively.
"My dear sir," said Ramsay, blushing at his own falsehood, "we are, Ibelieve, both earnest in one point, which is to strengthen the goodcause. Under such an impression, and having accepted your hospitality, Ihave no right to withhold what I know, but with which others are notacquainted."
"My dear sir," interrupted Krause, who was now fully convinced of theimportance of his guest, "you do me justice; I am firm and steadfast inthe good cause. I am known to be so, and I am also, I trust, discreet;confiding to my tried friends, indeed, but it will be generallyacknowledged that Mynheer Krause has possessed, and safely guarded, thesecrets of the state."
Now, in the latter part of this speech, Mynheer Krause committed a smallmistake. He was known to be a babbler, one to whom a secret could not beimparted, without every risk of its being known; and it was from theknowledge of this failing in Mynheer Krause that Ramsay had receivedsuch very particular recommendations to him. As syndic of the town, itwas impossible to prevent his knowledge of government secrets, and whenthese occasionally escaped, they were always traced to his not beingable to hold his tongue.
Nothing pleased Mynheer Krause so much as a secret, because nothing gavehim so much pleasure as whispering it confidentially into the ear of adozen confidential friends. The consequence was, the government wasparticularly careful that he should not know what was going on, and didall they could to prevent it; but there were many others who, althoughthey could keep a secret, had no objection to part with it for aconsideration, and in the enormous commercial transactions of MynheerKrause, it was not unfrequent for a good bargain to be struck with himby one or more of the public functionaries, the difference between thesum proposed and accepted being settled against the interests of MynheerKrause, by the party putting him in possession of some governmentmovement which had hitherto been kept _in petto_. Every man has hishobby, and usually pays dear for it, so did Mynheer Krause.
Now when it is remembered that Ramsay had opened and read the whole ofthe despatches, it may at once be supposed what a valuable acquaintancehe would appear to Mynheer Krause; but we must not anticipate. Ramsay'sreply was, "I feel it my bounden duty to impart all I am possessed of tomy very worthy host, but allow me to observe, mynheer, that prudence isnecessary--we may be overheard."
"I am pleased to find one of your age so circumspect," replied Krause;"perhaps it would be better to defer our conversation till after supper,but in the meantime, could you not just give me a little inkling of whatis going on?"
Ramsay had difficulty in stifling a smile at this specimen of MynheerKrause's eagerness for intelligence. He very gravely walked up to him,looked all round the room as if he was afraid that the walls would hearhim, and then whispered for a few seconds into the ear of his host.
"Indeed!" exclaimed Krause, looking up into Ramsay's face.
Ramsay nodded his head authoritatively.
"Gott in himmel!" exclaimed the syndic; but here the bell for dinnerrang a loud peal. "Dinner is on the table, mynheer," continued thesyndic, "allow me to show you the way. We will talk this over to-night.Gott in himmel! Is it possible?"
Mynheer Krause led the way to another saloon, where Ramsay found notonly the table prepared, but, as he had anticipated, the daughter of hishost, to whom he was introduced. "Wilhelmina," said Mynheer Krause, "ouryoung friend will stay with us, I trust, some time, and you must do allyou can to make him comfortable. You know, my dear, that business mustbe attended to. With me, time is money; so much so, that I can scarcelydo justice to the affairs of the state devolving upon me in virtue of myoffice. You must, therefore, join with me, and do your best to amuseour guest."
To this speech, Wilhelmina made no reply, but by a gracious inclinationof her head towards Ramsay, which was returned with all humility. Thedinner was excellent, and Ramsay amused himself very well indeed untilit was over. Mynheer Krause then led the way to the saloon, called forcoffee, and, so soon as he had finished it, made an apology to hisguest, and left him alone with his beautiful daughter.
Wilhelmina Krause was a young person of a strong mind irregularlycultivated; she had never known the advantage of a mother's care, andwas indeed self-educated. She had a strong tinge of romance in hercharacter, and, left so much alone, she loved to indulge in it.
In other points she was clever, well read, and accomplished; graceful inher manners, open in her disposition, to a fault; for, like her father,she could not keep a secret, not even the secrets of her own heart; forwhatever she thought she gave utterance to, which is not exactly thecustom in this world, and often attended with unpleasant consequences.
The seclusion in which she had been kept added to the natural timidityof her disposition--but when once intimate, it also added to herc
onfiding character. It was impossible to see without admiring her, toknow her without loving her; for she was nature herself, and, at thesame time, in her person one of Nature's masterpieces.
As we observed, when they retired to the saloon, Mynheer Krause veryshortly quitted them, to attend to his affairs below, desiring hisdaughter to exert herself for the amusement of his guest; the contrary,however, was the case, for Ramsay exerted himself to amuse her, and verysoon was successful, for he could talk of courts and kings, of courtiersand of people, and of a thousand things, all interesting to a young girlwho had lived secluded; and as his full-toned voice, in measured and lowpitch, fell upon Wilhelmina's ear, she never perhaps was so muchinterested. She seldom ventured a remark, except it was to request himto proceed, and the eloquent language with which Ramsay clothed hisideas, added a charm to the novelty of his conversation. In the courseof two hours Ramsay had already acquired a moral influence overWilhelmina, who looked up to him with respect, and another feeling whichwe can only define by saying that it was certainly anythingbut ill-will.
The time passed so rapidly, that the two young people could hardlybelieve it possible that it was past six o'clock, when they wereinterrupted by the appearance of Mynheer Krause, who came from hiscounting-house, the labours of the day being over. In the summer-time itwas his custom to take his daughter out in the carriage at this hour,but the weather was too cold, and, moreover, it was nearly dark. Aconversation ensued on general topics, which lasted till supper-time;after this repast was over Wilhelmina retired, leaving Ramsay and thesyndic alone.
It was then that Ramsay made known to his host the contents of thedespatches, much to Mynheer Krause's surprise and delight, who feltassured that his guest must be strong in the confidence of the Englishgovernment, to be able to communicate such intelligence. Ramsay, who wasaware that the syndic would sooner or later know what had been written,of course was faithful in his detail; not so, however, when theycanvassed the attempts of the Jacobite party; then Mr Krause wascompletely mystified.
It was not till a late hour that they retired to bed. The next morning,the syndic, big with his intelligence, called upon his friends inperson, and much to their surprise told them the contents of thedespatches which had been received--and, much to his delight, discoveredthat he had been correctly informed. He also communicated what Ramsayhad told him relative to the movements of the Court of St Germains, andthus, unintentionally, false intelligence was forwarded to England asfrom good authority. It hardly need be observed, that, in a very shorttime, Ramsay had gained the entire confidence of his host, and we mayadd also, of his host's daughter; but we must leave him for the presentto follow up his plans, whatever they may be, and return to thepersonages more immediately connected with this narrative.