“Very nourishing bread of yours,” said he, looking keenly at the men, who merely shrugged their shoulders.

“What has it to do with us how the captain keeps his money?” said one of them.

“You are quite right.  What has it to do with you?  We will wait till the captain comes.  There, put the bread and the money back into the cupboard, and then make a nice glass of grog for my men, the poor fellows will be frozen.  Here are three marks for you.”

The men did as they were asked.  One of them went upstairs with the smoking jug, bringing it back empty some time afterwards, with the thanks of the Herr major’s men.

A few minutes later one of the soldiers appeared at the cabin door and announced that two men were approaching from land.  “Good,” said Heideck; “keep quiet, till they are on deck; then don’t let them go down again, but tell them to come here.”

Almost immediately steps and voices were heard above, and in a few minutes two men entered the cabin.  The first, who wore the dress of a skipper, was of unusually powerful build, broad-shouldered, bull-necked, with a square weather-beaten face, from which two crafty little eyes twinkled.  The second, considerably younger, was dressed rather foppishly, and wore a beard trimmed in the most modern style.

“Mynheer Brandelaar?” queried Heideck.

“That’s me,” replied the man with the broad shoulders, in a brusque, almost threatening tone.

“Very glad to see you, mynheer.  I want to speak to you on a matter of business; I have been waiting for you more than an hour.  May I ask you to introduce me to this gentleman?”

The Dutchman was slow in answering.  It was evident that he was in a very bad temper and did not quite know what to do.  The officer’s quiet, somewhat mocking tone obviously disconcerted him.

He signed to the two sailors to withdraw, then turned to Heideck.

“This gentleman is a business friend.  And I should like to know what I and my affairs have got to do with you at all.  I am here to sell my herrings.  I suppose that isn’t forbidden?”

“Certainly not.  But if you have your business, mynheer, I have mine.  And I think it would be pleasantest for both of us if we could settle the matter here at once without having to row over to the Gefion.”

“To the Gefion?  What’s the meaning of that?  What right have you to use force with me?  My papers are in order; I can show them to you.”

“I should like to see them.  But won’t you be kind enough to tell me this gentleman’s name?  It is really of interest to me to make your business friend’s acquaintance.”

The second visitor now thought it advisable to introduce himself.

“My name is Camille Penurot,” said he; “I am a grocer in Breskens.  Maaning Brandelaar has offered to sell me his cargo, and I have come with him to inspect the goods.”

“And no doubt night is the best time for that,” rejoined Heideck in a sarcastic tone, but with an imperturbably serious air.  “Now let me see your papers, Mynheer Brandelaar.”