Gerard Douw, who was as much amazed
at its weight as at the strange abruptness
with which it was handed to him.

In accordance with the wishes of the
stranger, he delivered it into the hands of
Schalken, and repeating HIS directions,
despatched him upon the mission.

Schalken disposed his precious charge
securely beneath the folds of his cloak, and
rapidly traversing two or three narrow
streets, he stopped at a corner house, the
lower part of which was then occupied by
the shop of a Jewish goldsmith.

Schalken entered the shop, and calling
the little Hebrew into the obscurity of its
back recesses, he proceeded to lay before
him Vanderhausen's packet.

On being examined by the light of a
lamp, it appeared entirely cased with lead,
the outer surface of which was much
scraped and soiled, and nearly white with
age. This was with difficulty partially
removed, and disclosed beneath a box of
some dark and singularly hard wood; this,
too, was forced, and after the removal of
two or three folds of linen, its contents