think　our　old　Leyden　contains　a
  sufficiency　of　such　commodities；　without　an
  importation　from　Rotterdam。'
  Schalken　laughed；　as　in　duty　bound；
  and　after　a　pause　of　some　minutes；　Douw
  suddenly　exclaimed：
  'What　if　it　should　all　prove　a　jest；　a
  piece　of　mummery　got　up　by　Vankarp；　or
  some　such　worthy！　I　wish　you　had　run
  all　risks；　and　cudgelled　the　old　burgomaster；
  stadholder；　or　whatever　else　he
  may　be；　soundly。　I　would　wager　a　dozen
  of　Rhenish；　his　worship　would　have
  pleaded　old　acquaintance　before　the　third
  application。'
  'Here　he　comes；　sir；'　said　Schalken；
  in　a　low　admonitory　tone；　and　instantly；
  upon　turning　towards　the　door；　Gerard
  Douw　observed　the　same　figure　which
  had；　on　the　day　before；　so　unexpectedly
  greeted　the　vision　of　his　pupil
  Schalken。
  There　was　something　in　the　air　and
  mien　of　the　figure　which　at　once　satisfied
  the　painter　that　there　was　no　mummery
  in　the　case；　and　that　he　really　stood　in　the
  presence　of　a　man　of　worship；　and　so；　without
  hesitation；　he　doffed　his　cap；　and　courteously
  saluting　the　stranger；　requested　him
  to　be　seated。
  The　visitor　waved　his　hand　slightly；　as；
  if　in　acknowledgment　of　the　courtesy；　but
  remained　standing。
  'I　have　the　honour　to　see　Mynher
  Vanderhausen；　of　Rotterdam？'　said　Gerard
  Douw。
  'The　same；'　was　the　laconic　reply　of　his
  visitant。
  'I　understand　your　worship　desires　to
  speak　with　me；'　continued　Douw；　'and　I
  am　here　by　appointment　to　wait　your
  commands。'
  'Is　that　a　man　of　trust？'　said　Vanderhausen；
  turning　towards　Schalken；　who
  stood　at　a　little　distance　behind　his　master。
  'Certainly；'　replied　Gerard。
  'Then　let　him　take　this　box　and　get　the
  nearest　jeweller　or　goldsmith　to　value　its
  contents；　and　let　him　return　hither　with　a
  certificate　of　the　valuation。'
  At　the　same　time　he　placed　a　small　case；
  about　nine　inches　square；　in　the　hands　of
  Gerard　Douw；　who　was　as　much　amazed
  at　its　weight　as　at　the　strange　abruptness
  with　which　it　was　handed　to　him。
  In　accordance　with　the　wishes　of　the
  stranger；　he　delivered　it　into　the　hands　of
  Schalken；　and　repeating　HIS　directions；
  despatched　him　upon　the　mission。
  Schalken　disposed　his　precious　charge
  securely　beneath　the　folds　of　his　cloak；　and
  rapidly　traversing　two　or　three　narrow
  streets；　he　stopped　at　a　corner　house；　the
  lower　part　of　which　was　then　occupied　by
  the　shop　of　a　Jewish　goldsmith。
  Schalken　entered　the　shop；　and　calling
  the　little　Hebrew　into　the　obscurity　of　its
  back　recesses；　he　proceeded　to　lay　before
  him　Vanderhausen's　packet。
  On　being　examined　by　the　light　of　a
  lamp；　it　appeared　entirely　cased　with　lead；
  the　outer　surface　of　which　was　much
  scraped　and　soiled；　and　nearly　white　with
  age。　This　was　with　difficulty　partially
  removed；　and　disclosed　beneath　a　box　of
  some　dark　and　singularly　hard　wood；　this；
  too；　was　forced；　and　after　the　removal　of
  two　or　three　folds　of　linen；　its　contents
  proved　to　be　a　mass　of　golden　ingots；
  close　packed；　and；　as　the　Jew　declared；　of
  the　most　perfect　quality。
  Every　ingot　underwent　the　scrutiny　of
  the　little　Jew；　who　seemed　to　feel　an
  epicurean　delight　in　touching　and　testing
  these　morsels　of　the　glorious　metal；　and
  each　one　of　them　was　replaced　in　the　box
  with　the　exclamation：
  'Mein　Gott；　how　very　perfect！　not　one
  grain　of　alloybeautiful；　beautiful！'
  The　task　was　at　length　finished；　and　the
  Jew　certified　under　his　hand　the　value　of
  the　ingots　submitted　to　his　examination　to
  amount　to　many　thousand　rix…dollars。
  With　the　desired　document　in　his　bosom；
  and　the　rich　box　of　gold　carefully　pressed
  under　his　arm；　and　concealed　by　his　cloak；
  he　retraced　his　way；　and　entering　the
  studio；　found　his　master　and　the　stranger
  in　close　conference。
  Schalken　had　no　sooner　left　the　room；
  in　order　to　execute　the　commission　he　had
  taken　in　charge；　than　Vanderhausen
  addressed　Gerard　Douw　in　the　following
  terms：
  'I　may　not　tarry　with　you　to…night　more
  than　a　few　minutes；　and　so　I　shall　briefly
  tell　you　the　matter　upon　which　I　come。
  You　visited　the　town　of　Rotterdam　some
  four　months　ago；　and　then　I　saw　in　the
  church　of　St。　Lawrence　your　niece；　Rose
  Velderkaust。　I　desire　to　marry　her；　and
  if　I　satisfy　you　as　to　the　fact　that　I　am
  very　wealthymore　wealthy　than　any
  husband　you　could　dream　of　for　herI
  expect　that　you　will　forward　my　views　to
  the　utmost　of　your　authority。　If　you
  approve　my　proposal；　you　must　close　with　it
  at　once；　for　I　cannot　command　time
  enough　to　wait　for　calculations　and　delays。'
  Gerard　Douw　was；　perhaps；　as　much
  astonished　as　anyone　could　be　by　the　very
  unexpected　nature　of　Mynher　Vanderhausen's
  communication；　but　he　did　not
  give　vent　to　any　unseemly　expression　of
  surprise；　for　besides　the　motives　supplied
  by　prudence　and　politeness；　the　painter
  experienced　a　kind　of　chill　and　oppressive
  sensation；　something　like　that　which　is
  supposed　to　affect　a　man　who　is　placed
  unconsciously　in　immediate　contact　with
  something　to　which　he　has　a　natural　anti…
  pathyan　undefined　horror　and　dread
  while　standing　in　the　presence　of　the
  eccentric　stranger；　which　made　him　very
  unwilling　to　say　anything　which　might
  reasonably　prove　offensive。
  'I　have　no　doubt；'　said　Gerard；　after
  two　or　three　prefatory　hems；　'that　the
  connection　which　you　propose　would　prove
  alike　advantageous　and　honourable　to　my
  niece；　but　you　must　be　aware　that　she　has
  a　will　of　her　own；　and　may　not　acquiesce
  in　what　WE　may　design　for　her　advantage。'
  'Do　not　seek　to　deceive　me；　Sir　Painter；'
  said　Vanderhausen；　'you　are　her　guardian
  she　is　your　ward。　She　is　mine　if　YOU　like
  to　make　her　so。'
  The　man　of　Rotterdam　moved　forward
  a　little　as　he　spoke；　and　Gerard　Douw；　he
  scarce　knew　why；　inwardly　prayed　for　the
  speedy　return　of　Schalken。
  'I　desire；'　said　the　mysterious　gentleman；
  'to　place　in　your　hands　at　once　an
  evidence　of　my　wealth；　and　a　security　for
  my　liberal　dealing　with　your　niece。　The
  lad　will　return　in　a　minute　or　two　with　a
  sum　in　value　five　times　the　fortune　which
  she　has　a　right　to　expect　from　a　husband。
  This　shall　lie　in　your　hands；　together　with
  her　dowry；　and　you　may　apply　the　united
  sum　as　suits　her　interest　best；　it　shall　be
  all　exclusively　hers　while　she　lives。　Is　that
  liberal？'
  Douw　assented；　and　inwardly　thought
  that　fortune　had　been　extraordinarily　kind
  to　his　niece。　The　stranger；　he　thought；
  must　be　both　wealthy　and　generous；　and
  such　an　offer　was　not　to　be　despised；　though
  made　by　a　humourist；　and　one　of　no　very
  prepossessing　presence。
  Rose　had　no　very　high　pretensions；　for
  she　was　almost　without　dowry；　indeed；
  altogether　so；　excepting　so　far　as　the
  deficiency　had　been　supplied　by　the　generosity
  of　her　uncle。　Neither　had　she　any　right　to
  raise　any　scruples　against　the　match　on　the
  score　of　birth；　for　her　own　origin　was　by
  no　means　elevated；　and　as　to　other　objections；
  Gerard　resolved；　and；　indeed；　by　the
  usages　of　the　time　was　warranted　in
  resolving；　not　to　listen　to　them　for　a　moment。
  'Sir；'　said　he；　addressing　the　stranger；
  'your　offer　is　most　liberal；　and　whatever
  hesitation　I　may　feel　in　closing　with　it
  immediately；　arises　solely　from　my　not
  having　the　honour　of　knowing　anything　of
  your　family　or　station。　Upon　these　points
  you　can；　of　course；　satisfy　me　without
  difficulty？'
  'As　to　my　respectability；'　said　the
  stranger；　drily；　'you　must　take　that　for
  granted　at　present；　pester　me　with　no
  inquiries；　you　can　discover　nothing　more
  about　me　than　I　choose　to　make　known。
  You　shall　have　sufficient　security　for　my
  respectabilitymy　word；　if　you　are　honourable：
  if　you　are　sordid；　my　gold。'
  'A　testy　old　gentleman；'　thought　Douw；
  'he　must　have　his　own　way。　But；　all
  things　considered；　I　am　justified　in　giving
  my　niece　to　him。　Were　she　my　own
  daughter；　I　would　do　the　like　by　her。　I
  will　not　pledge　myself　unnecessarily；　however。'
  'You　will　not　pledge　yourself　unnecessarily；'
  said　Vanderhausen；　strangely　uttering
  the　very　words　which　had　just　floated
  through　the　mind　of　his　companion；　'but
  you　will　do　so　if　it　IS　necessary；　I　presume；
  and　I　will　show　you　that　I　consider　it　in…
  dispensable。　If　the　gold　I　mean　to　leave
  in　your　hands　satisfy　you；　and　if　you
  desire　that　my　proposal　shall　not　be　at　once
  withdrawn；　you　must；　before　I　leave　this
  room；　write　your　name　to　this　engagement。'
  Having　thus　spoken；　he　placed　a　paper
  in　the　hands　of　Gerard；　the　contents　of
  which　expressed　an　engagement　entered
  into　by　Gerard　Douw；　to　give　to　Wilken
  Vanderhausen；　of　Rotterdam；　in　marriage；
  Rose　Velderkaust；　and　so　forth；　within　one
  week　of　the　date　hereof。
  While　the　painter　was　employed　in
  reading　this　covenant；　Schalken；　as　we　have
  stated；　entered　the　studio；　and　having
  delivered　t