Gradually she receded, supposing that she had not been discovered, and closed the door quietly after her leaving Ramsay for a few seconds at the glass, with his eyes fixed upon the point at which she had disappeared.

Ramsay of course fell into a reverie, as most men do in a case of this kind; but he had not proceeded very far into it before he was interrupted by the appearance of the syndic, who entered by another door.

“I am sorry to have been obliged to leave you to your own company, Mynheer Ramsay, so soon after your arrival; but my arrangement of time is regular, and I cannot make any alteration.  Before you have been with us long, I trust that you will find means of amusement.  I shall have great pleasure in introducing you to many friends whose time is not so occupied as mine.  Once again let me say how happy I am to receive so distinguished a young gentleman under my roof.  Did the cutter bring despatches for the States General, may I enquire?”

“Yes,” replied Ramsay, “she did; and they are of some importance.”

“Indeed?” rejoined Mynheer inquisitively.

“My dear sir,” said Ramsay, blushing at his own falsehood, “we are, I believe, both earnest in one point, which is to strengthen the good cause.  Under such an impression, and having accepted your hospitality, I have no right to withhold what I know, but with which others are not acquainted.”

“My dear sir,” interrupted Krause, who was now fully convinced of the importance of his guest, “you do me justice; I am firm and steadfast in the good cause.  I am known to be so, and I am also, I trust, discreet; confiding to my tried friends, indeed, but it will be generally acknowledged that Mynheer Krause has possessed, and safely guarded, the secrets of the state.”

Now, in the latter part of this speech, Mynheer Krause committed a small mistake.  He was known to be a babbler, one to whom a secret could not be imparted, without every risk of its being known; and it was from the knowledge of this failing in Mynheer Krause that Ramsay had received such very particular recommendations to him.  As syndic of the town, it was impossible to prevent his knowledge of government secrets, and when these occasionally escaped, they were always traced to his not being able to hold his tongue.

Nothing pleased Mynheer Krause so much as a secret, because nothing gave him so much pleasure as whispering it confidentially into the ear of a dozen confidential friends.  The consequence was, the government was particularly careful that he should not know what was going on, and did all they could to prevent it; but there were many others who, although they could keep a secret, had no objection to part with it for a consideration, and in the enormous commercial transactions of Mynheer Krause, it was not unfrequent for a good bargain to be struck with him by one or more of the public functionaries, the difference between the sum proposed and accepted being settled against the interests of Mynheer Krause, by the party putting him in possession of some government movement which had hitherto been kept in petto.  Every man has his hobby, and usually pays dear for it, so did Mynheer Krause.