THE　SOUL　OF　NICHOLAS　SNYDERS；　OR　THE　MISER　OF　ZANDAM
  By　JEROME　K。　JEROME
  Once　upon　a　time　in　Zandam；　which　is　by　the　Zuider　Zee；　there　lived　a
  wicked　man　named　Nicholas　Snyders。　　He　was　mean　and　hard　and　cruel；
  and　loved　but　one　thing　in　the　world；　and　that　was　gold。　　And　even
  that　not　for　its　own　sake。　　He　loved　the　power　gold　gave　himthe
  power　to　tyrannize　and　to　oppress；　the　power　to　cause　suffering　at　his
  will。　　They　said　he　had　no　soul；　but　there　they　were　wrong。　　All　men
  ownor；　to　speak　more　correctly；　are　owned　bya　soul；　and　the　soul
  of　Nicholas　Snyders　was　an　evil　soul。　　He　lived　in　the　old　windmill
  which　still　is　standing　on　the　quay；　with　only　little　Christina　to
  wait　upon　him　and　keep　house　for　him。　　Christina　was　an　orphan　whose
  parents　had　died　in　debt。　　Nicholas；　to　Christina's　everlasting
  gratitude；　had　cleared　their　memoryit　cost　but　a　few　hundred
  florinsin　consideration　that　Christina　should　work　for　him　without
  wages。　　Christina　formed　his　entire　household；　and　only　one　willing
  visitor　ever　darkened　his　door；　the　widow　Toelast。　　Dame　Toelast　was
  rich　and　almost　as　great　a　miser　as　Nicholas　himself。　　〃Why　should　not
  we　two　marry？〃　Nicholas　had　once　croaked　to　the　widow　Toelast。
  〃Together　we　should　be　masters　of　all　Zandam。〃　　Dame　Toelast　had
  answered　with　a　cackling　laugh；　but　Nicholas　was　never　in　haste。
  One　afternoon　Nicholas　Snyders　sat　alone　at　his　desk　in　the　centre　of
  the　great　semi…circular　room　that　took　up　half　the　ground　floor　of　the
  windmill；　and　that　served　him　for　an　office；　and　there　came　a　knocking
  at　the　outer　door。
  〃Come　in！〃　cried　Nicholas　Snyders。　　He　spoke　in　a　tone　quite　kind　for
  Nicholas　Snyders。　　He　felt　so　sure　it　was　Jan　knocking　at　the
  doorJan　Van　der　Voort；　the　young　sailor；　now　master　of　his　own　ship；
  come　to　demand　of　him　the　hand　of　little　Christina。　　In　anticipation；
  Nicholas　Snyders　tasted　the　joy　of　dashing　Jan's　hopes　to　the　ground；
  of　hearing　him　plead；　then　rave；　of　watching　the　growing　pallor　that
  would　overspread　Jan's　handsome　face　as　Nicholas　would；　point　by
  point；　explain　to　him　the　consequences　of　defiancehow；　firstly；
  Jan's　old　mother　should　be　turned　out　of　her　home；　his　old　father　put
  into　prison　for　debt；　how；　secondly；　Jan　himself　should　be　pursued
  without　remorse；　his　ship　be　bought　over　his　head　before　he　could
  complete　the　purchase。　　The　interview　would　afford　to　Nicholas　Snyders
  sport　after　his　own　soul。　　Since　Jan's　return　the　day　before；　he　had
  been　looking　forward　to　it。　　Therefore；　feeling　sure　it　was　Jan；　he
  cried　〃Come　in！〃　quite　cheerily。
  But　it　was　not　Jan。　　It　was　somebody　Nicholas　Snyders　had　never　set
  eyes　on　before。　　And　neither；　after　that　one　visit；　did　Nicholas
  Snyders　ever　set　eyes　upon　him　again。　　The　light　was　fading；　and
  Nicholas　Snyders　was　not　the　man　to　light　candles　before　they　were
  needed；　so　that　he　was　never　able　to　describe　with　any　precision　the
  stranger's　appearance。　　Nicholas　thought　he　seemed　an　old　man；　but
  alert　in　all　his　movements；　while　his　eyesthe　one　thing　about　him
  Nicholas　saw　with　any　clearnesswere　curiously　bright　and　piercing。
  〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　Nicholas　Snyders；　taking　no　pains　to　disguise　his
  disappointment。
  〃I　am　a　pedlar；〃　answered　the　stranger。　　His　voice　was　clear　and　not
  unmusical；　with　just　the　suspicion　of　roguishness　behind。
  〃Not　wanting　anything；〃　answered　Nicholas　Snyders　drily。　　〃Shut　the
  door　and　be　careful　of　the　step。〃
  But　instead　the　stranger　took　a　chair　and　drew　it　nearer；　and；　himself
  in　shadow；　looked　straight　into　Nicholas　Snyders'　face　and　laughed。
  〃Are　you　quite　sure；　Nicholas　Snyders？　　Are　you　quite　sure　there　is
  nothing　you　require？〃
  〃Nothing；〃　growled　Nicholas　Snyders〃except　the　sight　of　your　back。〃
  The　stranger　bent　forward；　and　with　his　long；　lean　hand　touched
  Nicholas　Snyders　　playfully　　upon　　the　　knee。　　〃Wouldn't　you　like　a
  soul；　Nicholas　Snyders？〃　he　asked。
  〃Think　of　it；〃　continued　the　strange　pedlar；　before　Nicholas　could
  recover　power　of　speech。　　〃For　forty　years　you　have　drunk　the　joy　of
  being　mean　and　cruel。　　Are　you　not　tired　of　the　taste；　Nicholas
  Snyders？　　Wouldn't　you　like　a　change？　　Think　of　it；　Nicholas
  Snydersthe　joy　of　being　loved；　of　hearing　yourself　blessed；　instead
  of　cursed！　　Wouldn't　it　be　good　fun；　Nicholas　Snydersjust　by　way　of
  a　change？　　If　you　don't　like　it；　you　can　return　and　be　yourself
  again。〃
  What　Nicholas　Snyders；　recalling　all　things　afterwards；　could　never
  understand　was　why　he　sat　there；　listening　in　patience　to　the
  stranger's　talk；　for；　at　the　time；　it　seemed　to　him　the　jesting　of　a
  wandering　fool。　　But　something　about　the　stranger　had　impressed　him。
  〃I　have　it　with　me；〃　continued　the　odd　pedlar；　〃and　as　for　price〃
  The　stranger　made　a　gesture　indicating　dismissal　of　all　sordid
  details。　　〃I　look　for　my　reward　in　watching　the　result　of　the
  experiment。　　I　am　something　of　a　philosopher。　　I　take　an　interest　in
  these　matters。　　See。〃　　The　stranger　dived　between　his　legs　and
  produced　from　his　pack　a　silver　flask　of　cunning　workmanship　and　laid
  it　on　the　table。
  〃Its　flavour　is　not　unpleasant；〃　explained　the　stranger。　　〃A　little
  bitter；　but　one　does　not　drink　it　by　the　goblet：　　a　wineglassful；　such
  as　one　would　of　old　Tokay；　while　the　mind　of　both　is　fixed　on　the　same
  thought：　　'May　my　soul　pass　into　him；　may　his　pass　into　me！'　　The
  operation　is　quite　simple：　　the　secret　lies　within　the　drug。〃　　The
  stranger　patted　the　quaint　flask　as　though　it　had　been　some　little
  dog。
  〃You　will　say：　　'Who　will　exchange　souls　with　Nicholas　Snyders？'〃　　The
  stranger　appeared　to　have　come　prepared　with　an　answer　to　all
  questions。　　〃My　friend；　you　are　rich；　you　need　not　fear。　　It　is　the
  possession　men　value　the　least　of　all　they　have。　　Choose　your　soul　and
  drive　your　bargain。　　I　leave　that　to　you　with　one　word　of　counsel
  only：　　you　will　find　the　young　readier　than　the　oldthe　young；　to
  whom　the　world　promises　all　things　for　gold。　　Choose　you　a　fine；　fair；
  fresh；　young　soul；　Nicholas　Snyders；　and　choose　it　quickly。　　Your　hair
  is　somewhat　grey；　my　friend。　　Taste；　before　you　die；　the　joy　of
  living。〃
  The　strange　pedlar　laughed　and；　rising；　closed　his　pack。　　Nicholas
  Snyders　neither　moved　nor　spoke；　until　with　the　soft　clanging　of　the
  massive　door　his　senses　returned　to　him。　　Then；　seizing　the　flask　the
  stranger　had　left　behind　him；　he　sprang　from　his　chair；　meaning　to
  fling　it　after　him　into　the　street。　　But　the　flashing　of　the　firelight
  on　its　burnished　surface　stayed　his　hand。
  〃After　all；　the　case　is　of　value；〃　Nicholas　chuckled；　and　put　the
  flask　aside　and；　lighting　the　two　tall　candles；　buried　himself　again
  in　his　green…bound　ledger。　　Yet　still　from　time　to　time　Nicholas
  Snyders'　eye　would　wander　to　where　the　silver　flask　remained　half
  hidden　among　dusty　papers。　　And　later　there　came　again　a　knocking　at
  the　door；　and　this　time　it　really　was　young　Jan　who　entered。
  Jan　held　out　his　great　hand　across　the　littered　desk。
  〃We　parted　in　anger；　Nicholas　Snyders。　　It　was　my　fault。　　You　were　in
  the　right。　　I　ask　you　to　forgive　me。　　I　was　poor。　　It　was　selfish　of
  me　to　wish　the　little　maid　to　share　with　me　my　poverty。　　But　now　I　am
  no　longer　poor。〃
  〃Sit　down；〃　responded　Nicholas　in　kindly　tone。　　〃I　have　heard　of　it。
  So　now　you　are　master　and　the　owner　of　your　shipyour　very　own。〃
  〃My　very　own　after　one　more　voyage；〃　laughed　Jan。　　〃I　have　Burgomaster
  Allart's　promise。〃
  〃A　promise　is　not　a　performance；〃　hinted　Nicholas。　　〃Burgomaster
  Allart　is　not　a　rich　man；　a　higher　bid　might　tempt　him。　　Another　might
  step　in　between　you　and　become　the　owner。〃
  Jan　only　laughed。　　〃Why；　that　would　be　the　work　of　an　enemy；　which；
  God　be　praised；　I　do　not　think　that　I　possess。〃
  〃Lucky　lad！〃　commented　Nicholas；　〃so　few　of　us　are　without　enemies。
  And　your　parents；　Jan；　will　they　live　with　you？〃
  〃We　wished　it；〃　answered　Jan；　〃both　Christina　and　I。　　But　the　mother
  is　feeble。　　The　old　mill　has　grown　into　her　life。〃
  〃I　can　understand；〃　agreed　Nicholas。　　〃The　old　vine　torn　from　the　old
  wall　withers。　　And　your　father；　Jan；　people　will　gossip。　　The　mill　is
  paying？〃
  Jan　shook　his　head。　　〃It　never　will　again；　and　the　debts　haunt　him。
  But　all　that；　as　I　tell　him；　is　a　thing　of　the　past。　　His　creditors
  have　agreed　to　look　to　me　and　wait。〃
  〃All　of　them？〃　queried　Nicholas。
  〃All　of　them　I　could　discover；〃　laughed　Jan。
  Nicholas　Snyders　pushed　back　his　chair　and　looked　at　Jan　with　a　smile
  upon　his　wrinkled　face。　　〃And　so　you　and　Christina　have　arranged　it
  all？〃
  〃With　your　consent；　sir；〃　answered　Jan。
  〃You　will　wait　for　that？〃　asked　Nicholas。
  〃We　should　like　to　have　it；　sir。〃　　Jan　smiled；　but　the　tone　of　his
  voice　fell　agreeably　on　Nicholas　Snyders'　ear。　　Nicholas　Snyders　loved
  best　beating　the　dog　that；　growled　and　showed　its　teeth。
  〃Better　not　wait　for　that；〃　said　Nicholas　Snyders。　　〃You　might　have　to
  wait　long。〃
  Jan　rose；　an　angry　flush　upon　his　face。　　〃So　nothing　changes　you；
  Nicholas　Snyders。　　Have　it　your　own　way；　then。〃
  〃You　will　marry　her　in　spite　of　me？〃
  〃In　spite　of　you　and　of　your　friends　the　fiends；　and　of　your　master
  the　Devil！〃　flung　out　Jan。　　For　Jan　had　a　soul　that　was　generous　and
  brave　a