of Rotterdam, desires to speak
with him to-morrow evening at this
hour, and, if he please, in this room, upon
matters of weight--that is all. Good-night.'

The stranger, having finished this
message, turned abruptly, and, with a
quick but silent step, quitted the room,
before Schalken had time to say a word in
reply.

The young man felt a curiosity to see in
what direction the burgher of Rotterdam
would turn on quitting the studio,
and for that purpose he went directly
to the window which commanded the
door.

A lobby of considerable extent
intervened between the inner door of the
painter's room and the street entrance, so
that Schalken occupied the post of
observation before the old man could possibly
have reached the street.

He watched in vain, however. There
was no other mode of exit.

Had the old man vanished, or was he
lurking about the recesses of the lobby