Sherebiah was determined to have his question answered somehow. He was early at his post next morning, keeping a careful eye upon the door of the house. He saw the squire and Captain Aglionby issue forth together and visit a lawyer up four flights of stairs in a house near Holborn Bars. He followed all three to a house in a blind alley farther east, never suspecting that Harry was there confined. He shadowed them when they left, saw them enter a coffee-house, followed them when they came out, and then lost sight of them. Returning to his own inn to enquire whether anything had been heard of Harry, he found that a man had called an hour before and left a message for him, asking him to call without delay at an address in Smithfield. Hastening there at once, he learnt from Harry’s late jailer how he had been kidnapped and shipped off to the Plantations. At full speed he rushed to the wharf, only to learn that the _Merry Maid_, William Shovel master, had just taken the tide and was now on her way to the sea. "You med ha’ knocked me down wi’ a feather. I sat me down on a box under a gashly torch, and thinks I, ’Rafe Aglionby be too much for ’ee this time, Sherebiah Stand-up-and-bless.’ I stood up, I did; time an’ tide waits for no man; ’twas a sudden thought; I seed a sailen wherry alongside wharf, and two big swabs hangen round. I showed ’em a crown a-piece, and said there’s more to foller, and mebbe summat out o’ the Queen’s purse too; and here I be, all my poor mortal flesh a-wamblen like a aspen. ’Tis tooken a year off my life, ay, ’tis so." Jan Grootz smiled. "Mine good vrient," he said, "I tell you dis. You will come ashore with me; we will go to your inn and fetch your goods. It will delay us, but only one day. Den my ship sails; Amsterdam; you will come?" "Sakes! What about Master Harry, then?" "He alzo." "Oons! Be that th’ order o’ the day? Well, ’tis a long lane has no turnen. Will there be time for me to go and ha’ a few words wi’ Rafe Aglionby?" "No." "Well, I’ll save ’em up. A rod bean’t none the wuss for bein’ salted. Ay, and I were not always a man o’ peace!" *CHAPTER IX* *Monsieur de Polignac Presses his Suit* Scenes in Holland—Feeding an Army—A Tulip Bulb—On the Road—The Captain’s Man—A Break-Down—Double Dutch—The Captain Again—A Diversion—An Entry—An Exit—Hospitality—Confidences—Rejected Addresses—Palmam qui Meruit—Persuaded—Adèle "Hundred barrels pork, tousand quarters flour, five hunderdweight sausages, twenty gallon schnapps, for de garrison of Breda. Ver well, Monsieur de Tilly, de order shall be done." Mynheer Jan Grootz put down the paper from which he had been translating, and pushed a pair of horn spectacles up his brow.