CHAPTER II.

Mr. William Verheyst receives an Anonymous Letter.

By the same post the barrister, William Verheyst, received the
following letter without a signature.

Sir,--We think it probable that Sir Leopold van Zonshoven will
consult you on an affair of great importance to himself. May
we take the liberty of begging that you will kindly assist
him in any difficulties that may stand in the way of his
taking possession of a certain heritage left to him, and
also use your influence to persuade him not to decline any
proposition which may be made him. The writer of this letter
is perfectly acquainted with the intentions of the worthy
testatrix, and wishes the young man joy of his fortune.

"Oh dear!" exclaimed the good-natured William, crumpling the anonymous
letter in his fingers, "I fear this looks bad for Leopold. It will be
hard lines if he has to forego the fortune which is thus dangled before
his eyes like a bait on who knows what unreasonable conditions. I
don't like this attempt on the part of some unknown persons to bribe
his adviser. However, they shall find I am not to be caught in the
snare. If there be any clause in the will inconsistent with law and
honesty or with honour, I'll show them I have not been called to the
bar to no purpose. Poor fellow, he little knows how difficult it is
for me to leave home at present. Still, as I must go to the Hague
before my departure to Java, I will set off early to-morrow."

William Verheyst did as he said. He proved himself a true friend and
no loiterer; caught his train, and five minutes after his arrival in
the Hague was knocking at his friend's door.

Leopold van Zonshoven occupied a single large front room in a quiet
part of the town. He was too poor to live in a more fashionable
quarter, and too honest to attempt living above his means. And
yet there was an air of elegance about the room which marked it
as that of a young man of refined tastes, and proved him to be a
lover of home comforts rather than the pleasures of club life. To
the ordinary furniture to be found in lodgings he had superadded a
good writing-table, an easy-chair, an antique, carved book-case,
and several small objects of art, which stood out in bold relief
against the shabby wallpaper. This, however, he had tried to hide
as much as possible by hanging the family portraits all round the
room, some of them in solid ebony, others in gilt