Our hero retires thinking of Princess Erika, to be aroused by robbers and murderers, who are in collusion with Juffrouw Laps 225
Walter alone with a pious lady, or Juffrouw Laps on the war-path 240
A midnight kiss--A wonderful statue in the "Juniper Berry"-- Republicans and True Dutch hearts--A sailor with--Femke? 245
Sunrise on the "Dam"--An exciting encounter with a water-nymph--A letter from heaven--America, a haven for prodigal sons 260
A message from Femke, which Walter fails to understand--Dr. Holsma to the rescue--Femke and family portraits--Femke, and once more Femke 270
Stoffel's view of the matter--Juffrouw Laps's distress, and Juffrouw Pieterse's elation--Elephants and butterflies, and Kaatje's conception of heredity 279
A theatrical performance under difficulties--The contest between Napoleon and King Minos of Crete--A Goddess on Mt. Olympus--Kisses and rosebuds 286
I don't know the year; but, since the reader will be interested to know the time when this story begins, I will give him a few facts to serve as landmarks.
My mother complained that provisions were dear, and fuel as well. So it must have been before the discovery of Political Economy. Our servant-girl married the barber's assistant, who had only one leg. "Such a saving of shoe-leather," the good little soul argued. But from this fact one might infer that the science of Political Economy had already been discovered.
At all events, it was a long time ago. Amsterdam had no sidewalks, import duties were still levied, in some civilized countries there were still gallows, and people didn't die every day of nervousness. Yes, it was a long time ago.
The Hartenstraat! I have never comprehended why this street should be called thus. Perhaps it is an error, and one ought to write Hertenstraat, or something else. I have never found more "heartiness" there than elsewhere; besides, "harts" were not particularly plentiful, although the place could boast of a poulterer and dealer in venison.
I haven't been there for a long time, and I only remember that the Straat connects two main canal-streets, canals that I would fill up if I had the power to make Amsterdam one of the most beautiful cities of Europe.
My predilection for Amsterdam, our metropolis, does not make me blind to her faults. Among these I would mention first her complete inability to serve as the scene of things romantic. One finds here no masked Dominos on the street, the common people are everywhere open to inspection, no Ghetto, no Templebar, no Chinese quarter, no mysterious courtyard. Whoever commits murder is hanged; and the girls are called "Mietje" and "Jansje"--everything prose.