my identity
to the consul. He kindly gave me the necessary introduction to the
correspondents at Rotterdam of my bankers in London.

Having obtained my money, and having purchased certain necessaries of
which I stood in need, I walked slowly along the street, knowing nothing
of what my next proceeding was to be, and waiting confidently for the
event which was to guide me. I had not walked a hundred yards before
I noticed the name of "Van Brandt" inscribed on the window-blinds of a
house which appeared to be devoted to mercantile purposes.

The street door stood open. A second door, on one side of the passage,
led into the office. I entered the room and inquired for Mr. Van Brandt.
A clerk who spoke English was sent for to communicate with me. He told
me there were three partners of that name in the business, and inquired
which of them I wished to see. I remembered Van Brandt's Christian name,
and mentioned it. No such person as "Mr. Ernest Van Brandt" was known at
the office.

"We are only the branch house of the firm of Van Brandt here," the clerk
explained. "The head office is at Amsterdam. They may know where Mr.
Ernest Van Brandt is to be found, if you inquire there."

It mattered nothing to me where I went, so long as I was on my way to
Mrs. Van Brandt. It was too late to travel that day; I slept at a hotel.
The night passed quietly and uneventfully. The next morning I set forth
by the public conveyance for Amsterdam.

Repeating my inquiries at the head office on my arrival, I was referred
to one of the partners in the firm. He spoke English perfectly; and
he received me with an appearance of interest which I was at a loss to
account for at first.

"Mr. Ernest Van Brandt is well known to me," he said. "May I ask if you
are a relative or friend of the English lady who has been introduced
here as his wife?"

I answered in the affirmative; adding, "I am here to give any assistance
to the lady of which she may stand in need."

The merchant's next words explained the appearance of interest with
which he had received me.

"You are most welcome," he said. "You relieve my partners and myself
of a great anxiety. I can only explain what I mean by referring for
a moment to the business affairs of my firm. We have a fishing
establishment in the ancient city of Enkhuizen, on the shores of the
Zuyder Zee. Mr. Ernest Van Brandt had a share in it at one time, which
he afterward sold. Of late years our profits from this