"
Von Kapell left his guest's reflections undisturbed, till a servant
entered, who placed refreshments on a well polished oak table; when she
retired, he resumed.
"And now, what devil tempted you to play the--runaway?" swallowing the
term he had intended to use. "Was it for the wenches, or the dicing
table?"
"Spare me, most kind and worthy sir, I intreat you! To my father I will
make full confession of all my faults; but he must be the first to know
the origin of my crimes."
"Well, well, take another glass of wine; you shall stay in my house till
we can find a passage for you. It was but last night my good ship the
Christine sailed for Batavia, and--"
"Under favour," interrupted Yansen, "she has not yet left the harbour;
the wind blew too fresh for her to venture on crossing the sand-banks at
night, and it is now only shifting round a point or two."
"You are lucky, youngster;" quickly added the merchant, "the Christine
has noble accommodations; you shall aboard this evening. Put these in
the chest, good Yansen," handing him the bills, "and count me out the
two hundred louis d'or the boy is to have. Come, man! finish your meal,
for I see," said he, regarding a vane on the gable of an opposite house,
"you have no time to lose.
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