Poots in person, if he were at home, and if not, there was no reply to
the most importunate summons. It was then surmised that the old man
lived entirely by himself, being too niggardly to pay for any
assistance. This Philip also imagined; and as soon as he had recovered
his breath, he began to devise some scheme by which he would be enabled
not only to recover the stolen property, but also to wreak a dire
revenge.

The door was strong and not to be forced by any means which presented
themselves to the eye of Vanderdecken. For a few minutes he paused to
consider, and as he reflected, so did his anger cool down, and he
decided that it would be sufficient to recover his relic without having
recourse to violence. So he called out in a loud voice--

"Mynheer Poots, I know that you can hear me. Give me back what you have
taken, and I will do you no hurt; but if you will not, you must take the
consequence, for your life shall pay the forfeit before I leave this
spot."

This speech was indeed very plainly heard by Mynheer Poots; but the
little miser had recovered from his fright, and, thinking himself
secure, could not make up his mind to surrender the relic without a
struggle; so the doctor answered not, hoping that the patience of Philip
would be exhausted, and that by some arrangement, such as the sacrifice
of a few guilders, no small matter to one so needy as Philip, he would
be able to secure what he was satisfied would sell at a high price.

Vanderdecken, finding that no answer was returned, indulged in strong
invective, and then decided upon measures certainly in themselves by no
means undecided.

There was part of a small stack of dry fodder standing not far from the
house, and under the wall a pile of wood for firing. With these
Vanderdecken resolved upon setting fire to the house, and thus, if he
did not gain his relic, he would at least obtain ample revenge, he
brought several armfuls of fodder and laid them at the door of the
house, and upon that he piled the faggots and logs of wood, until the
door was quite concealed by them. He then procured a light from the
steel, flint, and tinder which every Dutchman carries in his pocket, and
very soon he had fanned the pile into a flame. The smoke ascended in
columns up to the rafters of the roof, while the fire raged below. The
door was ignited, and was adding to the fury of the flames, and Philip
shouted with joy at the success of his attempt.

"Now, miser