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Updated: June 11, 2025
When the little doctor arrived, he carefully examined his patient, and then went down stairs with her son into the kitchen. "Mynheer Philip," said Poots, "by Allah! I have done my best, but I must tell you that I have little hopes of your mother rising from her bed again. She may live one day or two days, but not more. It is not my fault, Mynheer Philip," continued Poots, in a deprecating tone.
There had always been a strong feeling against Mynheer Poots in the village; his neglect of all religious duties the doubt whether he was even a member of the church his avarice and extortion had created for him a host of enemies; but, at the same time, his great medical skill, which was fully acknowledged, rendered him of importance.
Oh! sir swear, swear by all that's holy, and by all that's pure, that you do not deceive me." "I swear by thyself, maiden, than all to me more sacred!" The casement closed, and in a short time a light appeared above. In a minute or two more the door was opened to Philip by the fair daughter of Mynheer Poots.
Amine opened the buffets, cleaned the glazed doors, and was busy rubbing up the silver flagons, when her father came into the room. "Mercy on me!" exclaimed Mynheer Poots; "and is all that silver? then it must be true, and he has thousands of guilders; but where are they?" "Never do you mind, father; yours are now safe, and for that you have to thank Philip Vanderdecken."
"I will come yes, most certainly," replied Poots, who spoke the language but imperfectly; "but Mynheer Vanderdecken, who will pay me?" "Pay you! my uncle will, directly that he comes home." "Your uncle de Skipper Van Brennen: no, he owes me four guilders, and he has owed me for a long time. Besides, his ship may sink."
We must here observe, that although Mynheer Poots was, from his known abilities, in good practice, his reputation as a hard-hearted, unfeeling miser was well established. No one was ever permitted to enter his threshold, nor, indeed, did any one feel inclined. He was as isolated from his fellow-creatures as was his tenement, and was only to be seen in the chamber of disease and death.
Mynheer Poots did not renew the conversation, but sank into gloomy thought. In a few minutes he left the parlour, and went up to his own room, when Philip stated to his wife what had induced him to make the old man believe that he should embark his property. "It was thoughtful of you, Philip, and I thank you for your kind feeling towards me; but I wish you had said nothing on the subject.
"God forgive him! as I do," replied Philip, lifting up the body, and carrying it up the stairs to the room which had been occupied by Mynheer Poots. "Let it at least be supposed that he died in his bed, and that his death was natural," said Amine. "My pride cannot bear that this should be known, or that I should be pointed at as the daughter of a murderer! O Philip!"
Yet surely he cannot be so diabolically wicked." Amine examined the contents of the paper: it was a very small quantity of dark brown powder, and, by the directions of Mynheer Poots, to be given in a tumbler of warm wine. Mynheer Poots had offered to heat the wine. His return from the kitchen broke Amine's meditations.
Philip having now done all that he could in obedience to his vow, determined to return to the cottage; and once more he was in the company of Amine. We must now pass over two months, during which Mynheer Poots continued to labour at his vocation, and was seldom within doors, and our two young friends were left for hours together. Philip's love for Amine was fully equal to hers for him.
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