The Coffee Trader

Chapter 2 details Miguel’s life before he arrived in Amsterdam. Though his father had been a sincere New Christian, Miguel was a Secret Jew. Despite his father’s objections, he married a woman named Katrina who died four months later. Rather than allow his father to choose his next bride, Miguel left Lisbon for Amsterdam, where he was welcomed by the Ma’amad. Back in Portugal, the Inquisitors killed his father, who was named randomly by another New Christian during torture.

After meeting Geertruid, Miguel goes to a Torah study session where his friend Isaiah Nunes tells him that a man is secretly watching Miguel. Miguel is concerned, as he has received strange notes saying, “I want my money” (32). Nunes tells Miguel he thinks the man is Solomon Parido, a member of the Ma’amad. Miguel is now even more concerned; Parido has been his enemy ever since Miguel withdrew his offer to marry Parido’s daughter.

In his “Factual and Revealing Memoirs,” Alferonda explains that trading on the Amsterdam Exchange has grown to include “futures, in which a man wagered on whether the price of a commodity would rise or fall” (34). Alferonda considers himself well suited for this business, as “this was a trade for the lucky and I had spent my life learning how to manufacture my own luck” (35).

Alferonda, who learned trickery from his father, once ruined a futures scheme Parido planned involving the manipulation of the price of Setubal salt. When Parido found out, he confronted Alferonda, saying, “You’ve crossed the wrong man” (38). As years passed, Alferonda dismissed the threat—but now that Parido has been elected to the Ma’amad, he possesses “as much power as was possible for a man in our community” (38).

Hannah, wife of Miguel’s brother Daniel, is preparing dinner with her servant, Annetje. Annetje observes that Hannah always gives more attention to the meal when Miguel, who lives with them, is also dining. Hannah is wary of Annetje and regrets the secrets they share because now Annetje has the power to blackmail her. Hannah, who is pregnant, is tired and frustrated with her life in Amsterdam. Born into a family of New Christians in Lisbon, Hannah knew nothing of her Jewish ancestry until her father revealed it just before her arranged marriage with Daniel. As his wife, she must now live according to Jewish customs.

At dinner, Hannah observes the differences between the brothers; besides being more handsome, Miguel is far more charming. She wonders, “What would it be like […] to be married to a man who loved laughter instead of resenting, who embraced life instead of squinting at it with suspicion?” (44).

Daniel advises Miguel against trading in coffee, since “trading in something no one wants can only lead to more ruin” (48). After dinner, Parido arrives. Parido dresses like Daniel, in the bright colored clothes of the Portuguese, and he “radiated a melancholy” (50) that Hannah attributes to having a simple-minded son and a wife too old to bear more children. Parido is close with Daniel but not Miguel, ever since an arranged marriage between Miguel and Parido’s daughter was broken off.

The men go into another room to talk, while Hannah and Annetje eavesdrop. Parido tells Miguel that he wants to put an end to the bad feelings between them, and Miguel agrees. Hannah, however, is suspicious of Parido’s motives and wishes she could warn Miguel.

Miguel receives a letter from Alferonda saying he has something important to discuss, and Miguel suggests they meet at the Turk-operated coffee tavern. Alferonda tells Miguel that Parido “has a spy inside the East India Company” (58). He then reveals that Parido is planning to make a profit by manipulating the prices of whale oil. Alferonda advises Miguel to purchase whale oil as well, but not to do any harm to Parido’s profits, or “he’ll never forgive you” (59).

As Miguel and Alferonda drink coffee, Miguel inquires about the coffee trade. Alferonda issues a warning, saying, “You must remember to be careful. Coffee is a drink that brings out great passions in men, and you may be unlocking great forces if you trifle with it” (61). Miguel remarks that Alferonda is the second person to warn him about coffee, the first being his brother Daniel. Alferonda says that Daniel is a fool and then asks if Miguel is attracted to Hannah. Miguel says he has no intention of sleeping with Hannah, as she is a virtuous woman, but Alferonda replies that “[w]hen a man starts protesting about a woman’s virtue, it means he’s either had her already or would kill to do so” (63).

In his “Factual and Revealing Memoirs,” Alferonda explains how he was excommunicated by the Ma’amad. The Tudescos, immigrant Jews of Eastern Europe, are shunned by the Ma’amad in Amsterdam because of their extreme poverty. Other Jews are forbidden from giving them charity outside of official channels. Nevertheless, Alferonda entered into business with some of them, making a profit for them and himself in the process. When the Ma’amad, which now included Alferonda’s enemy Parido, discovered his business, Alferonda was excommunicated permanently. He became “an outcast with nowhere to go, the mark of Cain upon me” (68).

Miguel reflects on his friendship with Geertruid. He met her a year before in a tavern, where she prevented him from being swindled by some Dutch traders. Since then, Geertruid and Miguel frequently socialized, although “she kept much about herself quiet” (74). Though Geertruid flirts with Miguel often, she makes it clear that there will be no physical relationship between them.

Miguel also wonders about Hendrick, a man who is always by Geertruid’s side. Miguel is unsure whether he is Geertruid’s “lover, her servant, or something else Miguel could not quite fathom” (74), but Geertruid never directly answers this question. Though Miguel resents the mystery, he also appreciates that Geertruid is a woman “well able to keep a secret, and that was a quality not to be underestimated” (75).