heard the woman say. “If thou art going to depart for Spain shortly, it will be just as well to settle up this matter at once. I know not where my good man Joachim is, nor when I will see him again, and I need the money.”
“I shall not depart for Spain with those brats till after the sack of the city, when the boy ought to he better. I do not half believe he is as ill as he makes out to be. Why canst thou not wait till then?” answered Dirk. “I must go away this afternoon, and will probably not be back till after the third. I am going to make one more test to see if my secret is still safe and practicable. When I return will be time enough!”
“Thou art a slippery eel, Dirk Willumhoog, and that I know right well!” replied the woman. “After the excitement is all over, thou wouldst find some means of sliding away without paying up thy just debts. I swear to thee that if thou dost not pay me at once
