Jan had other dreams.
"Drink, man, drink!" cried Nicholas impatiently, "before I am tempted
to change my mind. Christina, provided you marry her, is the richest
bride in Zandam. There is the deed; read it; and read quickly."
Then Jan consented, and the two men drank. And there passed a breath
between them as before; and Jan with his hands covered his eyes a
moment.
It was a pity, perhaps, that he did so, for in that moment Nicholas
snatched at the deed that lay beside Jan on the desk. The next
instant it was blazing in the fire.
"Not so poor as you thought!" came the croaking voice of Nicholas.
"Not so poor as you thought! I can build again, I can build again!"
And the creature, laughing hideously, danced with its withered arms
spread out before the blaze, lest Jan should seek to rescue
Christina's burning dowry before it was destroyed.
Jan did not tell Christina. In spite of all Jan could say, she would
go back. Nicholas Snyders drove her from the door with curses. She
could not understand. The only thing clear was that Jan had come back
to her.
"'Twas a strange madness that seized upon me," Jan explained. "Let
the good sea breezes bring us health."
So from the deck of Jan's ship they watched old Zandam till it
vanished into air.
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