the persistent guild upon him; and they cannot easily be shaken off.  The afternoon we arrived, we had barely got into our rooms at Brack’s Oude Doelan, when a gray-headed commissionaire knocked at our door, and offered his services to show us the city.  We deferred the pleasure of his valuable society.  Shortly, when we came down to the street, a smartly dressed Israelite took off his hat to us, and offered to show us the city.  We declined with impressive politeness, and walked on.  The Jew accompanied us, and attempted conversation, in which we did not join.  He would show us everything for a guilder an hour,—­for half a guilder.  Having plainly told the Jew that we did not desire his attendance, he crossed to the other side of the street, and kept us in sight, biding his opportunity.  At the end of the street, we hesitated a moment whether to cross the bridge or turn up by the broad canal.  The Jew was at our side in a moment, having divined that we were on the way to the Dam and the palace.  He obligingly pointed the way, and began to walk with us, entering into conversation.  We told him pointedly, that we did not desire his services, and requested him to leave us.  He still walked in our direction, with the air of one much injured, but forgiving, and was more than once beside us with a piece of information.  When we finally turned upon him with great fierceness, and told him to begone, he regarded us with a mournful and pitying expression; and as the last act of one who returned good for evil, before he turned away, pointed out to us the next turn we were to make.  I saw him several times afterward; and I once had occasion to say to him, that I had already told him I would not employ him; and he always lifted his hat, and looked at me with a forgiving smile.  I felt that I had deeply wronged him.  As we stood by the statue, looking up at the eastern pediment of the palace, another of the tribe (they all speak a little English) asked me if I wished to see the palace.  I told him I was looking at it, and could see it quite distinctly.  Half a dozen more crowded round, and proffered their aid.  Would I like to go into the palace?  They knew, and I knew, that they could do nothing more than go to the open door, through which they would not be admitted, and that I could walk across the open square to that, and enter alone.  I asked the first speaker if he wished to go into the palace.  Oh, yes! he would like to go.  I told him he had better go at once, —­they had all better go in together and see the palace,—­it was an excellent opportunity.  They seemed to see the point, and slunk away to the other side to wait for another stranger.