varice and
extortion--had created for him a host of enemies; but, at the same time,
his great medical skill, which was fully acknowledged, rendered him of
importance. Had it been known that his creed (if he had any) was
Mahomedan, and that he had died in attempting to poison his son-in-law,
it is certain that Christian burial would have been refused him, and the
finger of scorn would have been pointed at his daughter. But as Father
Seysen, when questioned, said, in a mild voice, that "he had departed in
peace," it was presumed that Mynheer Poots had died a good Christian
although he had acted little up to the tenets of Christianity during his
life. The next day the remains of the old man were consigned to the
earth with the usual rites; and Philip and Amine were not a little
relieved in their minds at everything having passed off so quietly.

It was not until after the funeral had taken place that Philip, in
company with Amine, examined the chamber of his father-in-law. The key
of the iron chest was found in his pocket; but Philip had not yet looked
into this darling repository of the old man. The room was full of
bottles and boxes of drugs, all of which were either thrown away, or, if
the utility of them was known to Amine, removed to a spare room. His
table contained many drawers, which were now examined, and among the
heterogeneous contents were many writings in Arabic--probably
prescriptions. Boxes and papers were also found, with Arabic characters
written upon them; and in the box which they first took up was a powder
similar to that which Mynheer Poots had given to Amine. There were many
articles and writings, which made it appear that the old man had dabbled
in the occult sciences, as they were practised at that period, and those
they hastened to commit to the flames.

"Had all these been seen by Father Seysen!" observed Amine, mournfully.
"But here are some printed papers, Philip!"

Philip examined them, and found that they were acknowledgments of shares
in the Dutch East-India Company.

"No, Amine, these are money, or what is as good--these are eight shares
in the Company's capital, which will yield us a handsome income every
year. I had no idea that the old man made such use of his money. I had
some intention of doing the same with a part of mine before I went away,
instead of allowing it to remain idle."

The iron chest was now to be examined. When Philip first opened it; he
imagined that it c