FAITH UNTO DEATH. 163 



passed from the apartment. The nature of Van Schoor^el, mildf as 

 it was, was considerably excited by the imperious and unaccounta- 

 ble demeanour of the Bohemian, and he hastened to demand 

 explanation. Missing his way, he reached the outer gate only in 

 time to discover that the mysterious object of his pursuit, mounted 

 on a gallant steed, and followed by two serving men, was, already, 

 dashing forward on the high road to Amsterdam. The host 

 of the Silver Lion was either unwilling or unable to afford any 

 clue to the name or quality of his guest ; and a tempestuous 

 night closing the evening, Schooreel retired to repose, ruminating 

 on the strange incident which had happened. But the placidity of 

 his disposition preserved him from uneasy reflection, and, the 

 next morning, he resumed his way to the capital, with thoughts 

 occupied far more anxiously and agreeably than in revolving 

 the eccentricity of his late companion. Desirous of greeting 

 Cornelitz by surprise, he had not announced his approach, and 

 the lapse of some years, the fatigu^ of long travel, and the effect 

 of eastern climates, had wrought a change in his aspect which, 

 added to the difference of g<irb, promised to secure him from too 

 swift recognition. With intense agitation he re-entered the city 

 from which, eight years before, he had departed in quest of fortune 

 and fame. Having lodged his retinue at an inn, he hastened forth 

 to the old familiar dwelling shaded by mulberry trees, where he 

 had spent the first years of his study, and forged the first links of 

 his love. A few minutes brought him to the street — his heart 

 beat violently, as he drew near, he strained his sight to catch a 

 glimpse of the wide-spreading trees — they were gone — he hurried 

 up to the spot where they flourished of yore, but he looked in vain 

 for the house they had shadowed — another, pompously gilded and 

 painted had sprung up in its place ! " 1 have erred 1" exclaimed 

 Hans, turning suddenly round, to reconnoitre the scene, — he was 

 puzzled again, many features were there which he knew, but still 

 more which he saw with the eyes of a stranger ; here was the old 

 leaden fountain 5 there was the stone cross, in the market place j 

 and beyond was the linden tree growing up opposite the booth of 

 Gilles Groost-Ouwen, the vender of flower-roots and sanative 

 herbs j but the shops and the inmates were altered, and specula- 

 tive eyes peered out. -on the sun-burnt and singularly attired 

 stranger, who stood as a man marvelling at a miracle. At length 

 it occurred to the painter that Cornelitz, wearying of his old- 

 fashioned tenement, had built him the present gay residence 

 instead ; accordingly, he knocked at the door, and after a few 

 seconds' duration, a smart-looking servitor appeared, — " Is the 

 Master CorneUtz within?" demanded Van Schooreel ; an affirmative 

 restored him to composure, and he followed the lacquey through a 

 long passage, lavishly ornamented in the most florid and modern 

 style. Opening a carved door at the end, the domestic, announcing 

 the visitor, ushered him simultaneously into the chamber. The 

 apartment was hung with the costliest tapestry, and superbly 

 carpetted j aromatics were burning in tripods of silver, stationed 

 NO. in, Y 



