While passing the brig he hailed her harshly and asked if the master was on board.  Schultz, smart and neat in a spotless white suit, leaned over the taffrail, finding the question somewhat amusing.  He looked humorously down into Heemskirk’s boat, and answered, in the most amiable modulations of his beautiful voice:  “Captain Allen is up at the house, sir.”  But his expression changed suddenly at the savage growl:  “What the devil are you grinning at?” which acknowledged that information.

He watched Heemskirk land and, instead of going to the house, stride away by another path into the grounds.

The desire-tormented Dutchman found old Nelson (or Nielsen) at his drying-sheds, very busy superintending the manipulation of his tobacco crop, which, though small, was of excellent quality, and enjoying himself thoroughly.  But Heemskirk soon put a stop to this simple happiness.  He sat down by the old chap, and by the sort of talk which he knew was best calculated for the purpose, reduced him before long to a state of concealed and perspiring nervousness.  It was a horrid talk of “authorities,” and old Nelson tried to defend himself.  If he dealt with English traders it was because he had to dispose of his produce somehow.  He was as conciliatory as he knew how to be, and this very thing seemed to excite Heemskirk, who had worked himself up into a heavily breathing state of passion.

“And the worst of them all is that Allen,” he growled.  “Your particular friend—­eh?  You have let in a lot of these Englishmen into this part.  You ought never to have been allowed to settle here.  Never.  What’s he doing here now?”

Old Nelson (or Nielsen), becoming very agitated, declared that Jasper Allen was no particular friend of his.  No friend at all—­at all.  He had bought three tons of rice from him to feed his workpeople on.  What sort of evidence of friendship was that?  Heemskirk burst out at last with the thought that had been gnawing at his vitals: 

“Yes.  Sell three tons of rice and flirt three days with that girl of yours.  I am speaking to you as a friend, Nielsen.  This won’t do.  You are only on sufferance here.”

Old Nelson was taken aback at first, but recovered pretty quickly.  Won’t do!  Certainly!  Of course, it wouldn’t do!  The last man in the world.  But his girl didn’t care for the fellow, and was too sensible to fall in love with any one.  He was very earnest in impressing on Heemskirk his own feeling of absolute security.  And the lieutenant, casting doubting glances sideways, was yet willing to believe him.

“Much you know about it,” he grunted nevertheless.

“But I do know,” insisted old Nelson, with the greater desperation because he wanted to resist the doubts arising in his own mind.  “My own daughter!  In my own house, and I not to know!  Come!  It would be a good joke, lieutenant.”

“They seem to be carrying on considerably,” remarked Heemskirk moodily.  “I suppose they are together now,” he added, feeling a pang which changed what he meant for a mocking smile into a strange grimace.