anticipated another rouleau of gold on
his arrival at Amsterdam.

"An den I will give you your monish at de same time."

More money, thought Vanslyperken, who replied then, "With all my heart,"
and took a chair.

The Jew left the room, and soon returned with a small yellow bag, which
he put into Vanslyperken's hand, and a large packet carefully sealed.
"Dis vas of the hutmost importance," said old man, giving him the
packet. "You will find your monish all right, and now vas please just
put your name here, for I vas responsible for all de account;" and the
Jew laid down a receipt for Vanslyperken to sign. Vanslyperken read it
over. It was an acknowledgment for the sum of fifty guineas, but not
specifying for what service. He did not much like to sign it, but how
could he refuse? Besides, as the Jew said, it was only to prove that
the money was paid; nevertheless, he objected.

"Vy vill you not sign? I must not lose my monish, and I shall lose it
if you do not sign. Vat you fear?--you not fear that we peach; ven
peoples pay so high, they not pay for noting. We all sall hang togeder
if de affair be found."

Hang together! thought Vanslyperken, whose fears were roused, and he
turned pale.

"You are vell paid for your shervices--you vas vell paid at doder side
of de vater, and you are now von of us. You cannot go back, or your
life vill be forfeit, I can assure you--you vill sign if you please--and
you vill not leave dis house, until you do sign," continued the Jew.
"You vill not take our monish, and den give de information, and hang us
all. You vill sign, if you please, sare."

There was a steadiness of countenance and a firmness in the tone of the
old man, which told Vanslyperken that he was not to be trifled with, and
assured him that he must have help at hand if requisite. If left to
himself, the Jew would have been easily mastered by the lieutenant; but
that such was not the case was soon proved, by the old man ringing a
small silver bell on the table, and shortly afterwards there was a
rustling and noise, as if of several persons, heard in the passage.
Vanslyperken now perceived that he was entrapped, and he also felt that
it was too late to retreat. Actuated by his fear of violence on the one
hand, and his love of gold on the other, he consented to sign the
voucher required. As soon as this was done, the old Jew was all
civility. He took the paper, and locked it up in a large cabinet, and
then