The Coffee Trader

Joachim shows up at Miguel’s home dressed in new clothes. He proposes a deal: Miguel can pay him his money on an installment plan, as long as he tells Joachim how he plans to make his money. Miguel is certain that Joachim is working for Parido, so he will only tell him that there are “other Jews of importance involved in this business and in order to protect ourselves we have all taken vows of silence” (302). Miguel says that one of his partners is a member of the Ma’amad’s council, implying it is Parido.

Miguel meets Geertruid and tells her he needs an additional 1,500 guilders to make the plan succeed. Geertruid angrily says, “You’ve got all there is to get from me” (306). Leaving the tavern, Miguel sees some men who appear to be following him; he is sure they are Ma’amad spies.

Later Miguel goes to Ricardo’s house, where he is having dinner with several prominent Jews, including Parido. Miguel privately tells Ricardo that if he isn’t going to pay him what he owes, he must at least reveal the name of the debtor. Otherwise, Miguel is prepared to take the matter before the Ma’amad. Ricardo gives in, naming Daniel as the debtor: “He has been lording it over you because you are in his debt, but these past weeks he has been your debtor. Do you find that as amusing as I do?” (311). Miguel picks up a stack of papers and throws them in Ricardo’s face.

Joachim arrives at Miguel’s home again. This time Joachim says he has information that will benefit Miguel greatly, and in return he wants 10 percent of Miguel’s profit. Miguel agrees.

Joachim tells Miguel that Parido bribed him to get information about Miguel’s coffee venture. He also reveals that Nunes works for Parido and has supplied him with coffee. Miguel asks about Geertruid’s connection to Parido, but Joachim says he is not aware of any, only that “she’s a thief and a trickster, she and her companion both” (317). Joachim admits that the pig’s head was both his and Parido’s doing.

After Joachim leaves, Hannah asks Miguel to never let him in the house again. Miguel promises, saying, “I’ll do everything in my power to protect you […] even at the cost of my own life” (320). He gives her the book, saying he could tutor her. Annetje comes in the room, demanding that Hannah return the book and trying to force Hannah to leave the room. As they struggle, Daniel arrives. Annetje tells him everything about Miguel and Hannah’s flirtation and Hannah’s secret trips to church before announcing that she is quitting. However, since she speaks in Dutch, Daniel doesn’t understand what she said.

In his “Factual and Revealing Memoirs,” Alferonda describes how Miguel shows up at Annetje’s new apartment, demanding to know if anyone paid her to spy on him while she worked for Daniel. Annetje says that she was paid by Geertruid. However, Alferonda reveals that this is false information he instructed Annetje to tell Miguel. In actuality, Annetje was spying on Alferonda’s behalf.

Miguel asks Alferonda to loan him 1,500 guilders to “help ruin Solomon Parido’s plans” (330). He meets Geertruid and tells her they must put the plan into action in exactly three weeks. Geertruid is hesitant, saying it is a risk since they don’t have the coffee yet, but Miguel insists “our only enemy now is timidity” (332).

Miguel next meets with Joachim and Alferonda to discuss the details of his plan. Miguel says he is going to attempt a “windhandel,” or a wind trade, which means he plans to sell something he doesn’t have, which is both dangerous and illegal. Joachim expresses concern that Miguel is scheming against him, but Miguel assures him that “we are not out to trick you” (335).

When Miguel arrives back at the house, it is dark except for a single candle. Hannah tells him that Daniel is out of the house, and Miguel knows this is an invitation to take her to bed. He is just about to kiss her when he realizes it is too dangerous, that “she would, in a thousand silent ways, betray him before a day had passed” (338). Miguel goes down to his cellar room alone.