An hour later he was in the back room talking with the lad, Peter.
"Peter," he said, "you haf learned to take naps in the day und to keep awake all through the night ?" "Yes, Mynheer," replied Peter, proudly.
"Then, Peter, you vass an owl, a watcher in the dark." "Yes, Mynheer." "Und I gif you praise for watching well, Peter, und also gold, which iss much more solid than praise.

Now I gif you by und by more praise und more gold which iss still more solid than praise.

The lad, Robert Lennox, will be here early tonight to take supper with me, und I will see that he does not go out again before the morrow.

Now, do you, Peter, watch the house of Hendrik Martinus all night und tell me if anyone comes out or goes in, und who und what he may be, as nearly as you can." "Yes, Mynheer," said Peter, and a sudden light flickered in the pale blue eyes.
No further instructions were needed.

He left the house in silence, and Mynheer Jacobus Huysman trusted him absolutely..