The girl dressed herself as prettily as she could and put all her money in her pocket. It was only a few stivers. She hurried through Ash Gate and inquired where the shop was that lent books. Thus she came directly to the Hartenstraat. She simply retraced the steps of our hero, when he made that first sally with Glorioso.
Less timid than Walter--Femke was older, and had had more experience with men--she asked the gruff fellow in a business-like way for "the book about the countess with the long train or her dress."
"I don't know," Femke said. "It's about a robber--and the Pope's mentioned in it, too. I am hunting for the boy who read the book. I wanted to ask where he lives--I will pay you for your trouble."
"Do you think I'm a fool? Am I here to hunt for boys?"
"But, M'neer, I will pay you," the girl said, and laid the money on the counter.
"Oh, get on! What do I know about your boy?"
"I haven't done anything, and you can't run me off like that. No, you can't. If you don't want to tell me, you needn't to. You are an unaccommodating fellow!"
She was going to leave, when it occurred to her to ask, "And won't you lend me a book, either?"
"Yes, you can get a book. What do you want?"
"That book about the robber and Amalia," said Femke. She felt now that she was a "customer," and oh, how proud she had become all at once!
"I don't know anything about such a book. Do you mean Rinaldo Rinaldini?"
"No. Is there more than one robber book? Just call over the names of them for me."
This was said with an air of importance that was not without its effect on the shopman. He pulled down the catalogue, and soon he came to "Glorioso."
"That's it, that's it!" cried Femke, delighted.
"But you must deposit a forfeit," the man said, as he mounted the ladder to get that precious book.
"No, no, I don't want the book at all. I only want to know where the boy lives who read it. I will pay you gladly," and she pointed to her money.
"That isn't necessary," he said. "I don't mind accommodating you when you ask me politely."
He looked in the register and found the name Femke had mentioned, with the address. He showed it to her, and was even going to explain to her the best way to get there; but Femke was already out the door. The fellow had difficulty in overtaking her to return the money she had forgotten on the counter.