Go to America?
Yes, if he only had those hundred florins that Mr. Motto had relieved him of. Of course that worthy gentleman was now living like a prince on the money. At least, Juffrouw Pieterse had said as much. But, even if he had the money, he could not go away and leave Mrs. Claus’s house to the mercy of stray thieves and robbers. In a way, hadn’t he on yesterday evening taken the field against robbers?
Besides, he had no cap. There was nothing in sight that looked like a hat. Yes—there hung a North Holland cap!
Chapter XXX
While Walter was looking at Femke’s cap and revolving other plans of escape, the door opened and Kaatje, the girl from Holsma’s, walked in. Not recognizing her, Walter did not understand her when she said that Femke had sent her to ask how he was. He looked at the messenger searchingly; then he asked:
“Are you trying to make a fool of me?”
He had puzzled over recent events till everything seemed ghostly and unreal; and he was angry.
“My dear sir, Femke sent me.”