"
replied Philip in a rage; "come directly,--while you are disputing, my
mother may be dead."

"But, Mr Philip, I cannot come, now I recollect. I have to see the
child of the Burgomaster at Terneuse," replied Mynheer Poots.

"Look you, Mynheer Poots," exclaimed Philip, red with passion; "you have
but to choose,--will you go quietly, or must I take you there? You'll
not trifle with me."

Here Mynheer Poots was under considerable alarm, for the character of
Philip Vanderdecken was well known.

"I will come by-and-by, Mynheer Philip, if I can."

"You'll come now, you wretched old miser," exclaimed Philip, seizing
hold of the little man by the collar, and pulling him out of his door.

"Murder! murder!" cried Poots, as he lost his legs, and was dragged
along by the impetuous young man.

Philip stopped, for he perceived that Poots was black in the face.

"Must I then choke you, to make you go quietly? for, hear me, go you
shall, alive or dead."

"Well, then," replied Poots, recovering himself, "I will go, but I'll
have you in prison to-night: and, as for your mother, I'll not--no, that
I will not--Mynheer Philip, depend upon it."

"Mark me, Mynheer Poots," replied Philip, "as sure as there is a God in
heaven, if you do not come with me, I'll choke you now; and when you
arrive, if you do not your best for my poor mother, I'll murder you
there. You know that I always do what I say, so now take my advice,
come along quietly, and you shall certainly be paid, and well paid--if I
sell my coat."

This last observation of Philip, perhaps, had more effect than even his
threats. Poots was a miserable little atom, and like a child in the
powerful grasp of the young man. The doctor's tenement was isolated,
and he could obtain no assistance until within a hundred yards of
Vanderdecken's cottage; so Mynheer Poots decided that he would go--
first, because Philip had promised to pay him, and secondly, because he
could not help it.

This point being settled, Philip and Mynheer Poots made all haste to the
cottage; and on their arrival, they found his mother still in the arms
of two of her female neighbours, who were bathing her temples with
vinegar. She was in a state of consciousness, but she could not speak;
Poots ordered her to be carried up stairs and put to bed, and pouring
some acids down her throat, hastened away with Philip to procure the
necessary remedies.

"You will give your mother that directly, Mynheer Phil