e said lightly.

"One has to be careful, sir, against thieves and house-breakers."

"And will your picked guard of ten men escort the jongejuffrouw to your
private house this night?"

But the other slowly shook his head in response.

"The lady and her escort," he said "must, I fear me, accept the
hospitality of this hovel for to-night."

"But...."

"My wife is away, sir, visiting her father in Dordrecht. She will only
be home to-morrow. In the meanwhile my house is empty, and I am spending
my nights here as well as my days."

"But...."

"It will not be a great hardship for the jongejuffrouw, sir," broke in
the Jew again, "she will be made as comfortable for the night as
maybe--she and her attendant too. I have a serving woman here who will
see to the beds and the supper. Then to-morrow I can send a messenger to
my private house to prepare my wife the moment she arrives, against the
coming of the jongejuffrouw. 'Tis situate but half a league from here,
and she would then be sure of a welcome equal to her worth."

Then as Diogenes was silent--since he felt perplexed and anxious at this
unlooked-for turn of events and this first check to his plans--Ben Isaje
continued with even greater affability than heretofore:

"Indeed, sir, and is it not better for the lady's own comfort? She will
be over-fatigued when she arrives, and delighted--I know--at finding a
nice bed and supper ready for her. Is it not all for the best?" he
reiterated pleasantly.

But Diogenes was not satisfied. He did not like the idea of losing sight
of Gilda altogether, quite so soon.

"I do not care to leave the jongejuffrouw," he said, "until I see her
safely on her way to your house."

"Nor need you leave her, sir. There is a small room at the back of this
shop, to which you are heartily welcome for the night. It is usually
occupied by some of my guard, but they can dispose themselves in other
rooms in the house. They are sturdy fellows, sir, and well-armed,"
continued the Jew, not without significance, "and I trust that they will
not disturb you with their noise. Otherwise, sir, you are most welcome
to sleep and sup under this roof."

Diogenes murmured vague thanks. Indeed, he was not a little troubled in
his mind. The plans which he had formed for the second abduction of
Gilda would prove more difficult of execution than he had supposed. The
Jew had more than the customary prudence of his race, and Beresteyn had
made that prudence and