than vegetating in a provincial town, on the look-out for ill-paid
lawsuits or some legal appointment. I expatriate myself for a year
or two, to return with all the importance of an Eastern nabob,"
continued Verheyst, with a faint attempt at a jest which evidently
did not come from the heart, as no pleasant smile lit up his face.

"I cannot say you are wrong, and yet I am sorry," replied Leopold,
with an effort to be cheerful; "all my plans for the future enjoyment
of my fortune were bound up with you--we were to shoot, hunt, and
travel together."

"What about your wife?" asked William.

"My first condition would have been that she must treat my friend
kindly."

"It is all the better; you should not be under the necessity of making
any such conditions. Possibly you may have difficulties enough to
overcome, without my standing in the way."

"Really, William, I feel inclined to refuse the fortune, and go to
Java with you."

"Nonsense, man, pluck up your courage, and trust to those feelings of
honour and delicacy of which your present scruples only afford me a
new proof. She may turn out to be a pearl of a wife, this young lady
whom you are requested to enchase in gold. By the way, do you know
her name, or where you are to go in order to make her acquaintance?"

"I have this morning received a letter from the lawyer in Utrecht,
requesting me to pay him a visit as soon as possible, when he will
give me all necessary information about General von Zwenken and his
granddaughter Francis Mordaunt."

"Mordaunt! Is her name Francis Mordaunt?" exclaimed Verheyst, in a
tone of surprise and disappointment.

"Yes, don't you like the name? or have you heard it before?" asked
Leopold, all in a breath, for the serious looks of his friend
alarmed him.

"Heard it before! Well, yes--indeed, often, as that of an English
officer on half-pay who some years ago lived in my province; a man
against whose character, so far as I know, nothing can be said."

"Yes, but I am speaking about the daughter. Do you know her?"

"Not personally, and it is a dangerous thing to form an opinion
from gossiping reports. What I have heard may not be correct; but
if it be so, I cannot hide from you what it would only disturb your
peace of mind to know. Therefore, I say, make your own inquiries,
seek information from people you can trust, and trust only your own
observations and experience."

"Is she deformed? Is she a fright?" asked Leopold, growi