mpion of her griefs behind."

"That may be so; but if she imagined that for the sake of her money I
should so far demean myself as to serve her evil designs, then either
she was greatly mistaken in my character, or she received erroneous
information about me."

"At present, you don't even know whether anything inconsistent
with your character is demanded of you. Let me remind you that
the depositions of the dead are not to be discussed, but as far as
possible carried out. If after due inquiry you find yourself unable
to fulfil the conditions of this will, it will still be possible for
you to stop further proceedings."

"I have written to the lawyer in that sense. I feel it my duty to
see first whether a marriage be possible. This I am bound to do for
the young lady's sake; but I should like you to pay a visit to the
Von Zwenkens, and bring me word what you think of the young lady,
before I make my appearance."

"How you do give yourself the airs of a millionaire already!" answered
Verheyst--"opening the preliminaries of your marriage by an
ambassador. I am sorry to say I cannot accept your commission,
worthy patron."

There was a mingling of irony and offended pride in the tone of this
answer, which caused Leopold to start up in surprise.

"You do not mean me to take this reproach seriously?" he asked, feeling
somewhat touched by his friend's words. "You know well enough I only
asked a friendly service of one whose clear judgment I prize above
my own, blinded as I now am by a confusion of contending passions."

"Of course. I quite understand your meaning. It was only my chaff; but,
unfortunately, it is only too true that I am prevented from obliging
you. To-morrow I stay here in the Hague to look after my own affairs,
and then I shall have not a day, nor even an hour, to lose in making
my preparations for a long voyage."

"What long voyage are you alluding to?"

"Ah! that's true; we have had so much to say about the change in
your life, that I have forgotten to tell you about the change in my
own. You are not the only person on whom fortune smiles. I have been
offered and have accepted the post of private secretary to the newly
appointed Governor-General of our Indian possessions. Besides the high
salary, and the excellent opportunity of travelling to Java in such a
comfortable way, my future prospects are so promising that I could not
for a moment resist the temptation to go. It is much more agreeable to
me