The Purcell Papers

he Legacy of the late Francis

s native land, and was probably dead and buried, before I was born; I never visited Holland nor spoke with a native of that country. So much I believe you already kn

land during the Irish campaigns. I know not how it happened that I liked this man's society, spite of his politics and religion: but so it was; an

ious building - the foreground was occupied by a female figure, arrayed in a species of white robe, part of which is arranged so as to form a veil. The dress, however, is not strictly that of any religious order. In its hand the figure bears a lamp, by whose light alone the form and face are illuminated; the features are marked by an arch smile, such as pretty women wear when en

e mere ideal shapes and combinations which have floated through the imagination of the artist, but scenes, faces, and situations

ing his eyes upon the pa

t prominent place in the design, an accurate portrait of Rose Velderkaust, the niece of Gerard Douw, the first and, I believe, the only love of Godfrey Schalken. My father knew the painter well, and from Schalken himself he learned the story of the myst

ard myself, leaving you to reject or to allow the evidence upon which the truth of the tradition depends, with this one assurance, that Schalken was an honest, blunt Dutch

nning worker in oils, whose pieces delight the initiated of the present day almost as much as his manners disgusted the refined of his own; and yet this man, so rude, so dogged, so slovenly, I had almost s

same harsh, unlicked, and rugged boor that, in his maturer age, he proved - or how far the neglected rudeness which afterwards marked his air, and ga

s can never no

f facts, or what have been received and transmitted as su

xcitable manner which he shared, we believe, with his countrymen, he was not incapable of deep and vivid impressions, for it

eepening into something of a keener and intenser feeling than was quite consistent with the tranquillity of his honest Dutch heart; and at the same time he perceived, or thought he perceived, flattering symptoms of a reciprocity of liking, and this was quite sufficient to determine whatever indecision he might hav

He was, therefore, to wait until time had furnished him with opportunity, and accident with success; and then, if his labours were found sufficiently lucrative, it was to be hoped that his proposals might at least be listened to by her jealous guardian. Months pa

formidable interruption, and that, too, in a manner so strange and mysterious as to baffle a

nions, who had gladly availed themselves of the excuse which the dusk of evening afforded, to withdraw fr

fficient to distinguish between canvas and charcoal. He had not then, nor, indeed, until long after, discovered the peculiar powers of his pencil, and he was engaged in composing a group of extremely roguish-l

nt enough to prevent his being by any means satisfied with his work; and many were the patient erasures and corrections which the limbs a

ast giving way to the darkness of night. The patience of the young man was exhausted, and he stood before his unfinished production, absorbed in no very pleasing ruminations, one hand buried in the folds of his long dark hair,

ld that picture, devils, saint, and all

den laugh, u

ar, instantly respond

for the first time became aware that his

conical crown, and in his hand, which was protected with a heavy, gauntlet-shaped glove, he carried a long ebony walking-stick, surmounted with what appeared, as it glittered dim

eavy flap of the beaver which overhung it, so that not a feature could be discerned. A quantity of dark hair escaped from beneath this sombre hat, a

ovelessness of the figure, that effectually checked the testy comment which had at once risen to the lips of the irritated artist. He therefore, as soon a

'that Mynher Vanderhauseny of Rotterdam, desires to speak with him to-morrow evening at th

uptly, and, with a quick but silent step, quitted the

her of Rotterdam would turn on quitting the studio, and for that

ainter's room and the street entrance, so that Schalken occupied the post

however. There was n

his last suggestion filled the mind of Schalken with a vague horror, which was so unaccountably int

le-locked the door and thrust the key in his pocket, without looking to the right or left, he traversed the passage which had so recent

man till yesterday. What can he want of me? A portrait, perhaps, to be painted; or a younger son or a poor relation to be apprenticed; or a coll

nd then humming a passage from a piece of music which he was himself composing; for, though no great proficient, he admired the art; sometimes pausing to glance over the work of one

from his post of observation, and turning to Schalken -'said you not th

when I first saw him, si

lting a horologe as large and as round as a full-grown or

was th

man, richly clad

young, nor yet very old neither, and his dress was rich and

hour of seven; the eyes of both master and student were directed to the door; and it

yst wait for him, Godfrey, if you court the acquaintance of a capricious burgomaster. As for me, I th

und; and after a pause of some

had run all risks, and cudgelled the old burgomaster, stadholder, or whatever else he may be, soundly. I wo

upon turning towards the door, Gerard Douw observed the same figure which ha

was no mummery in the case, and that he really stood in the presence of a man of worship; and so, wit

ly, as, if in acknowledgment of t

Mynher Vanderhausen, of Ro

the laconic repl

ak with me,' continued Douw, 'and I am he

sen, turning towards Schalken, who stood

y,' repli

ller or goldsmith to value its contents, and let him

e, in the hands of Gerard Douw, who was as much amazed at its we

elivered it into the hands of Schalken, and repeati

and rapidly traversing two or three narrow streets, he stopped at a corner hous

Hebrew into the obscurity of its back recesses, he

h age. This was with difficulty partially removed, and disclosed beneath a box of some dark and singularly hard wood; this, too, was forced, and after the r

an epicurean delight in touching and testing these morsels of the gloriou

ect! not one grain of all

under his hand the value of the ingots submitted to h

pressed under his arm, and concealed by his cloak, he retraced his way, and

cute the commission he had taken in charge, than Vand

church of St. Lawrence your niece, Rose Velderkaust. I desire to marry her, and if I satisfy you as to the fact that I am very wealthy - more wealthy than any husband you could dream of for her - I

ives supplied by prudence and politeness, the painter experienced a kind of chill and oppressive sensation, something like that which is supposed to affect a man who is placed unconsciously in immediate contact with so

you propose would prove alike advantageous and honourable to my niece; but you must be aware t

Vanderhausen; 'you are her guardian - she is yo

e spoke, and Gerard Douw, he scarce knew why, in

The lad will return in a minute or two with a sum in value five times the fortune which she has a right to expect from a husband. This shall lie in your han

ece. The stranger, he thought, must be both wealthy and generous, and such an offer was

generosity of her uncle. Neither had she any right to raise any scruples against the match on the score of birth, for her own origin was by no means ele

feel in closing with it immediately, arises solely from my not having the honour of knowing anythi

me with no inquiries; you can discover nothing more about me than I choose to make known. You shall have

gs considered, I am justified in giving my niece to him. Were she my own daught

ion; 'but you will do so if it IS necessary, I presume; and I will show you that I consider it indispensable. If the gold I mean to leave in your hands

ressed an engagement entered into by Gerard Douw, to give to Wilken Vanderhausen, of Ro

the Jew into the hands of the stranger, he was about to retire, when Vanderhausen called to him to wait; and, presenting the case and the certificate to G

ou con

would fain have an o

' said the su

Douw, 'I am content

e,' said Vanderha

l case of writing materials, and Ge

en unconsciously signed the instrument which bestowed upon another that han

strange visitor folded up the paper, a

Gerard Douw, and will see the subject of our contract. Farewell.' And so

ved only to support his suspicions, for the old man did not issue from the door. This was very strange, very odd, very fearful. He an

know the ruin which threa

and his niece; and even if he had, it is doubtful whether he would have regarde

rd in the eyes of the guardian to make a mutual attachment an essential element in a contract of mar

opposition on her part, but solely from a ludicrous consciousness that if his ward were, as she very naturally might do, to ask him to describe the appearance of

having scanned her person with an air of satisfaction, he took her hand, a

which few heads or hearts can resist. Trust me, thou wilt soon be a bride, girl. But this is trifling, and I am pressed for time, so make ready the large room by eight o'clock to-ni

to the room to which we have already had occasion to

ut to take his departure to his obscure and comfortless lodging

il soon found themselves in the handsome and somewhat antique-look

egs, was placed - destined, no doubt, to receive the supper, for which preparations were going forward; and ranged wit

e, and the artist, awaited the arrival of the

obby, the door of the room in which the party which we have described were assembled slowly opened, and there entered a figure which startled, almost appalled, the phlegmatic Dutchmen, and nearly made

es of the same colour. The opening of the cloak in front showed the under-suit to consist of some very dark, perhaps sable material, and his hands were enclosed in a pair of heavy leather gloves which ran up considerably above the wrist, in the manner of a gauntlet. In o

d by their glassy fixedness; the nose was well enough, but the mouth was writhed considerably to one side, where it opened in order to give egress to two long, discoloured fangs, which projected from the upper jaw, far below the lower lip; the hue of the lips themselves bore the usual relation to that of the face, and was consequently nearly black.

d as little as possible of his flesh to appear, and th

und breath and collectedness to bid him welcome, and, with a mute i

omething undefinable, that was unnatural, un-human - it was as if the limbs we

muster courage enough to utter the few necessary salutations and courtesies: and, indeed, such was the nervous terror whi

sion, however, as to fail to observe two

test degree; and further, there was a death-like stillness in his whole person, owing to t

sant effect when seen and observed. Vanderhausen at length relieved the painter of Leyden of his inausp

rightful man! I would not see him

et if his heart and actions are good, he is worth all the pretty-faced, perfumed puppies that walk the Mall. Rose, my girl

onceivable,'

all his deformity; and if not of power sufficient actually to alter the shape o

uld not get it out of my head that I saw the old, painted, wooden figure th

s niece's inclination to ridicule the ugliness of her intended bridegroom, although he was not a little pleased to observe that she appeared totally exem

e, formally drawn up, between Wilken Vanderhausen of the Boom-quay, in Rotterdam, and Rose Velderkaust of Leyden, niece to Gerard Douw, master in the art of painting, also of the same city; and containing engagements on the part of Vanderhausen to m

s one of sordidness, levity, and interest. In less than a week after the first interview which we have just described, the contract of marria

rned and worked, if with less cheerfulness, with far more dogged resolu

, Gerard Douw heard nothing of his niece, or her worshipful spouse. The interest of the money, which wa

lly determined to journey thither - a trifling undertaking, and easily accomplished - and thus to satis

r. No one in Rotterdam had eve

could give him any information whatever touching the object of his inquiry; a

learned, that having proceeded by slow stages, they had late in the evening approached Rotterdam; but that before they entered the city, and while yet nearly a mile from it, a small party of men, soberly clad, and after the old fashion, with peaked b

bridegroom, having opened the coach-door from within, descended, and having assisted his bride to do likewise, led her, weeping bitterly and wringing her hands, to the litter, which they both ente

of the carriage and man. He saw and could tell nothing more of Mynher Vanderhausen and his

ible for a man possessing in his countenance so strong an evidence of the presence of the most demoniac feelings, to be in reality anything but a villain; and ev

, which often crept upon his mind after his daily employment was over, he was wont frequently to prevail upon Schalk

igestion, when their reflections were disturbed by a loud sound at the street-door, as if occasioned by some person rushing forcibly and repeatedly against it. A domestic had run without

wild and haggard, and pale with exhaustion and terror; but her dress surprised them as much even as her unexpected appearance. It consisted of a kind of white woollen wrapper, made close about the neck, and descending to the very ground. It was much deran

, quickly,

nistered to her wishes, and she drank some wine with a haste and eagerness which su

, at once,

, but he was anticipated; for no sooner had she become aware of its presence than she darted at it with the

e aware how strange her conduct had been, or it may have been that other more agitatin

' said she; 'I am not safe till

urrender his bedchamber to her use; he also persuaded her to retire to it at once and to r

'he can deliver me. The dead and the livin

lf to their guidance, and they proceeded to the c

or a moment,' said she. 'I

a was candle, so that a sufficient degree of light was cast upon all surrounding objects. They were now entering the large chamber, which, as

- he is here! See,

g the candle so as to throw its light with increased distinctness upon the objects in the room, he entered the chamber into which the shadow had glided. No figure wa

s upon his forehead; nor was he more composed when he heard the increased urgency,

now him. He's by me - he's with me - he's in the room. Then,

her. She frequently uttered incoherent sentences, repeating again and again, 'The dead and the living ca

oken sentences she continued to

and terror of her manner, that she had made her escape from some place of confinement for lunatics, and was in immediate fear of pursuit. He resolved to summon medical advice as soon as the mind of his niece had been in some measure set at rest by the

, more dreaded as a combatant than beloved as a Christian - of pure morality, subtle brain, and frozen heart. He entered the chamber which communicated with that in which Ro

n of the parties who were engaged in it. The old clergyman and Schalken were in the anteroom of which we have already spoken; Rose lay in the inner chamber, the door o

ime to begin, a sudden gust of air blew out the candle which served to illumina

another candle; the

nctions in the immediate impulse, stepped from the bedch

irl; and at the same time she sprang from the bed and d

had his niece had time to utter the startling exclamation, when the door which divid

, but their united and desperate effort

ng loudness of despairing terror. Schalken and Douw applied every ene

ase in loudness, and at the same time they heard the bolts of the latticed wi

d as to be scarcely human, swelled from the room,

y were nearly precipitated into the room. It was empty. The window was open, and Schalken sprang to a chair and gazed out upon the street and canal below. He saw no form, but he beheld, or

the intricacies of the labyrinth and to arrive at a distinct conclusion was to be found. But an incident occurred, which, though it will not be received b

of Rotterdam. It was necessary that a very considerable journey should be performed by the funeral procession, which, as it will readily be believed, was not very numerously attended. Schalk

orresponds to our sexton, on seeing a well-dressed gentleman, whose object was to attend the expected funeral, pacing the aisle of the church, hospitably invited him to share with him the comfo

ton, after some fruitless attempts to engage his guest in conversation, was

nd and body of Godfrey Schalken, and he sank into a deep sleep, from which he was awakened by some one shaking h

in a kind of light robe of muslin, part of which was so disposed as to act as a veil, and in her hand she carrie

the head of the stairs, he paused; the figure paused also, and, turning gently round, displayed, by the light of the lamp it carried, the face and features of his first love, Rose V

escended the stairs - he followed; and, turning to the left, through a narrow passage, she led him, to his infinite surpris

the light of the lamp which she held towards its contents, she disclosed to the horror-stricken painter, sitting bolt upright in the bed, the livid and demoniac form of Vanderhausen. Schalken had hardly seen him when he fell senseless upon the floor, where he lay until discovered, on the n

, in a painting executed shortly after the event we have narrated, and which is valuable as exhibiting not only the peculiarities which have made Schalken's pictures sought after, but even

ch as we have above attempted to describe; and in the background, and to the left of him who examines the painting, there stands the form of a man apparently aroused from slee

. This tale is traditionary, and the reader will easily perceive, by our studiously omitting to heighten many points of the narrative, when a little additional colouring might have added effec