'George De Witt was so good——'
Elijah uttered a horrible curse.
'Tell me,' he said furiously, coming up close to the old woman and scowling at her—into her eyes. 'Answer me without a lie; why, by what right did De Witt lend, or give you, the money? What claim had you on him?'
'Well, Elijah, I must tell you. Mehalah——'
'Here I am,' said the girl throwing open the door. 'Why am I the subject of your talk?' A couple of shepherds followed her.
'Look here,' she said, counting the coin; 'there is a guinea on the floor. Pick it up and try it, if it be good.'
'That's all right,' said one of the men, ringing the coin and then trying it between his teeth.
'This is the sum due for our half-year's rent,' she went on. 'Is it not so, Master Rebow? Is not this the sum in full?'
He sullenly gave an affirmative.
'You see that I pay this over to him. I don't want a written receipt. I pay before witnesses.'