The snow increased so much and was driving so hard that in forty or fifty paces he disappeared entirely and Robert, wishing shelter, went back to the house of Benjamin Hardy, moved by many and varied emotions.
He could not doubt that St.Luc's warning was earnest and important, but why should he have incurred such great risks to give it?
What was he to Adrian Van Zoon?
and what was Adrian Van Zoon to him?
And what did the talk at night between Willet and Hardy mean?
He, seemed to be the center of a singular circle of complications, of which other people might know much, but of which he knew nothing.
Mr.Hardy's house was very solid, very warm and very comfortable.

He was still at the Royal Exchange, but Mr.Pillsbury had come home, and was standing with his back to a great fire, his coattails drawn under either arm in front of him.

A gleam of warmth appeared in his solemn eyes at the sight of Robert.
"A fierce day, Master Robert," he said.

"'Tis good at such a time to stand before a red fire like this, and have stout walls between one and the storm." "Spoken truly, Master Jonathan," said Robert, as he joined him before the fire, and imitated his position.
"You have been to our new city library?
We are quite proud of it." "Yes, I was there, but I have also been thinking a little." "Thought never hurts one.

We should all be better if we took more thought upon ourselves." "I was thinking of a man whom we saw at the play last night, the merchant, Adrian Van Zoon." Master Jonathan let his coattails fall from under his arms, and then he deliberately gathered them up again.
"A wealthy and powerful merchant.