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time of the settlement。 It stood near a point of land called
Corlear's Hook；＇1＇ which stretches out into the Sound； and against
which the tide； at its flux and reflux； sets with extraordinary
rapidity。 The venerable and somewhat crazy mansion was
distinguished from afar by a grove of elms and sycamores that
seemed to wave a hospitable invitation； while a few weeping
willows； with their dank； drooping foliage； resembling falling
waters； gave an idea of coolness that rendered it an attractive
spot during the heats of summer。
＇1＇ A point of land at the bend of the East River below Grand
Street； New York City。
Here； therefore； as I said； resorted many of the old inhabitants of
the Manhattoes； where； while some played at shuffleboard＇1＇ and
quoits；＇2＇ and ninepins； others smoked a deliberate pipe； and
talked over public affairs。
＇1＇ A game played by pushing or shaking pieces of money or metal so
as to make them reach certain marks on a board。
＇2＇ A game played by pitching a flattened； ring…shaped piece of
iron； called a quoit； at a fixed object。
It was on a blustering autumnal afternoon that Wolfert made his
visit to the inn。 The grove of elms and willows was stripped of
its leaves； which whirled in rustling eddies about the fields。 The
ninepin alley was deserted； for the premature chilliness of the day
had driven the company within doors。 As it was Saturday afternoon
the habitual club was in session； composed principally of regular
Dutch burghers； though mingled occasionally with persons of various
character and country； as is natural in a place of such motley
population。
Beside the fireplace； in a huge； leather…bottomed armchair； sat the
dictator of this little world； the venerable Rem； or； as it was
pronounced； 〃Ramm〃 Rapelye。 He was a man of Walloon＇1＇ race； and
illustrious for the antiquity of his line； his great…grandmother
having been the first white child born in the province。 But he was
still more illustrious for his wealth and dignity。 He had long
filled the noble office of alderman； and was a man to whom the
governor himself took off his hat。 He had maintained possession of
the leather…bottomed chair from time immemorial； and had gradually
waxed in bulk as he sat in his seat of government； until in the
course of years he filled its whole magnitude。 His word was
decisive with his subjects； for he was so rich a man that he was
never expected to support any opinion by argument。 The landlord
waited on him with peculiar officiousness；not that he paid better
than his neighbors； but then the coin of a rich man seems always to
be so much more acceptable。 The landlord had ever a pleasant word
and a joke to insinuate in the ear of the august Ramm。 It is true
Ramm never laughed； and； indeed； ever maintained a mastiff…like
gravity and even surliness of aspect； yet he now and then rewarded
mine host with a token of approbation； which； though nothing more
nor less than a kind of grunt； still delighted the landlord more
than a broad laugh from a poorer man。
＇1＇ A people of French origin； inhabiting the frontiers between
France and Flanders。 A colony of one hundred and ten Walloons came
to New York in 1624。
〃This will be a rough night for the money diggers；〃 said mine host；
as a gust of wind bowled round the house and rattled at the
windows。
〃What！ are they at their works again？〃 said an English half…pay
captain； with one eye； who was a very frequent attendant at the
inn。
〃Aye are they；〃 said the landlord； 〃and well may they be。 They've
had luck of late。 They say a great pot of money has been dug up in
the fields just behind Stuyvesant's orchard。 Folks think it must
have been buried there in old times by Peter Stuyvesant； the Dutch
governor。〃
〃Fudge！〃 said the one…eyed man of war； as he added a small portion
of water to a bottom of brandy。
〃Well； you may believe it or not； as you please；〃 said mine host；
somewhat nettled； 〃but everybody knows that the old governor buried
a great deal of his money at the time of the Dutch troubles； when
the English redcoats seized on the province。 They say； too； the
old gentleman walks； aye； and in the very same dress that he wears
in the picture that hangs up in the family house。〃
〃Fudge！〃 said the half…pay officer。
〃Fudge； if you please！ But didn't Corney Van Zandt see him at
midnight； stalking about in the meadow with his wooden leg； and a
drawn sword in his hand； that flashed like fire？ And what can he
be walking for but because people have been troubling the place
where he buried his money in old times？〃
Here the landlord was interrupted by several guttural sounds from
Ramm Rapelye； betokening that he was laboring with the unusual
production of an idea。 As he was too great a man to be slighted by
a prudent publican； mine host respectfully paused until he should
deliver himself。 The corpulent frame of this mighty burgher now
gave all the symptoms of a volcanic mountain on the point of an
eruption。 First there was a certain heaving of the abdomen； not
unlike an earthquake； then was emitted a cloud of tobacco smoke
from that crater； his mouth； then there was a kind of rattle in the
throat； as if the idea were working its way up through a region of
phlegm； then there were several disjointed members of a sentence
thrown out； ending in a cough； at length his voice forced its way
into a slow； but absolute tone of a man who feels the weight of his
purse； if not of his ideas； every portion of his speech being
marked by a testy puff of tobacco smoke。
〃Who talks of old Peter Stuyvesant's walking？ （puff）。 Have people
no respect for persons？ （puffpuff）。 Peter Stuyvesant knew better
what to do with his money than to bury it （puff）。 I know the
Stuyvesant family （puff）； every one of them （puff）； not a more
respectable family in the province （puff）old standards （puff）
warm householders （puff）none of your upstarts （puffpuffpuff）。
Don't talk to me of Peter Stuyvesant's walking （puffpuffpuff
puff）。〃
Here the redoubtable Ramm contracted his brow； clasped up his mouth
till it wrinkled at each corner； and redoubled his smoking with
such vehemence that the cloudy volumes soon wreathed round his
head； as the smoke envelops the awful summit of Mount Aetna。
A general silence followed the sudden rebuke of this very rich man。
The subject； however； was too interesting to be readily abandoned。
The conversation soon broke forth again from the lips of Peechy
Prauw Van Hook； the chronicler of the club； one of those prosing；
narrative old men who seem to be troubled with an incontinence of
words as they grow old。
Peechy could； at any time； tell as many stories in an evening as
his hearers could digest in a month。 He now resumed the
conversation by affirming that； to his knowledge； money had； at
different times； been digged up in various parts of the island。
The lucky perso