Von Dessel was a captain in Hardenberg's Hanoverian regiment. He was a square, strong-built man, about forty, with very light hair, as was apparent since the governor's order had forbidden the use of powder to the troops, in consequence of the scarcity of flour. His thick, white, overhanging eyebrows, close lips, and projecting under jaw, gave sternness to his countenance. "Good afternoon, captain," said the Jew; "what I do for you to-day, sare?" "Do for me! By Gott, you have done for me already, with your cursed Hebrew tricks," said the captain. The German and the Jew met on a neutral ground of broken English. "I always treat every gentleman fair, sare," said the Jew. "I tell you, captain, I lose by that last bill of yours." "_Der teufel!_ who gains, then?" said Von Dessel, "for you cut me off thirty per cent." The Jew shrugged his shoulders. "I don't make it so, sare; the siege makes it so. When the port is open, you shall have more better exchange." "Well, money must be had," said the German. "What will you give now for my bill for twenty pounds?" The Jew consulted a book of figures--then made some calculations on paper--then appeared to consider intently. "Curse you, speak!" said the choleric captain. "You have made up your mind about how much roguery long ago." "Captain, sare, I give you feefty dollars," said the Jew. The captain burst forth with a volley of German execrations. "Captain," said the Jew presently, "I like to please a gentleman if I can. I give you one box of cigars besides--real Cubans--one hundred and feefty in a box." The captain at this broke forth again, but checked himself presently on the entrance of the Jew's daughter, who now returned from the Major's. She advanced quietly into the room, made a little bow to the captain, took off and laid aside her shawl, and, taking up some work, sat down and began to sew. Von Dessel resumed his expostulation in a milder tone. The Jew, however, knew the money was necessary to him, and only yielded so far as to increase his box of cigars to two hundred; and the captain, finding he could get no better terms from him, was forced to agree. While the Jew was drawing out the bills, the German gazed attentively at Esther, with a good deal of admiration expressed in his countenance. "I can't take the money now," said he, after signing the bills. "I am going on duty. Bring it to me to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock." "I'm afraid I can't, sare," said Lazaro; "too much business. Couldn't you send for it, captain?" "Not possible," said the German; "but you must surely have somebody that might bring it--some trustworthy person you know." And his eye rested on Esther. "There's my dater, sare," said the Jew--"I shall send her, if that will do." "Good," said the captain, "do not forget," and quitted the room forthwith.