to admit him into his confidence in a matter of this kind.

So he remarked to Heffken significantly, "Your secret would, perhaps, be safer if you kept it quite to yourself.”

"He has nothing to tell, I am sure, papa," said Marie, burning, however, with impatience to hear what Heffken might have to communicate.

"So much the better-then he cannot have any secret to betray," said Romelaer; "but stop, here we have more visitors,-Goedekamp and Van der Tromp."

The conference now ceased. Madame Van Romelaer woke up, and her husband prepared the whist-tables as quickly as possible, with a view of putting a check upon Heffken's scandal.

"Will you take a hand at cards, Heffken?" asked Van Romelaer, who well knew that the two last guests had come expressly for that purpose.

"Yes, if you particularly wish it, I will," answered Heffken; "but I prefer conversing with the ladies.”

He then took up a book, and sat down at a table near to Marie, who presently drawing close to him, said, in a low tone, "You know something which you are concealing from us, Mr. Heffken. Do tell me what is it?" "My dear Mademoiselle Romelaer, you said just now you were sure that I had nothing to tell.”

"Has it anything to do with us?" rejoined Maric impatiently.

"Oh, no, it has nothing to do with either you or your family. It only concerns, Mr. Wagner and the young lady, both of whom must be perfectly indifferent to you."

Marie bit her lip, and was silent for some time; at last Heffken resumed the conversation by saying,—" Pray

do not mind it, mademoiselle. The affair is too insignificant to deserve your reprobation."

"Oh, do tell me all about it?" pursued Marie eagerly. "Well, then, I will tell you all as briefly as possible. The firm of Wagner and Van Roeken wrote, not long ago, to Germany for a wife. Now, as Van Roeken was married not very long ago, it stands to reason that the lady was intended for Wagner."

"Are you really telling me the truth?" Marie asked with anxiety. "We all know that you bear no goodwill to the Germans."

"I confess I do not like them; besides the worst men in the colony are Germans. But if you do not believe me, you have merely to ask Wagner himself about it. He will inform you at once whether what I have told you is true or not."

"Heffken, come over here," exclaimed Romelaer gleefully. "What do you think of my holding the four honours twice running. By Jove, I never had such cards in my life before."

Heffken was glad of an excuse to leave Marie for a short time, that she might ruminate on what he had told her, and went to the whist-table, in answer to the summons of his friend Romelaer. But he soon returned to the side of the young lady, with Captain Bernstoff, and a lively conversation ensued which lasted until eleven o'clock, when the whole party broke up.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A LOVER'S QUARREL.

On the following morning, Wagner drove to the policeoffice, and after considerable difficulty managed to liberate poor Nitschke.

The only proof adduced against the latter was the finding of his toothpick case; which, in connection with his having been on the spot that morning, as Heffken declared, and, indeed, the only person who had called there, formed sufficient grounds of suspicion to cause his arrest.

But this was dispelled by the explanation readily given by the accused, that he had gone to the office in the daytime to seek for employment, and must then have dropped the article in question. Moreover, since Sunday morning he had not left Wagner's house, except to proceed directly to the business premises.

It must be admitted, however, that this statement had its weak side, for it might have been contended that his object in calling at the East-India Company's office was rather for some sinister purpose than to seek employment. However, as Wagner offered to be bail for him to any amount, that he would not leave Batavia before the trial, Nitschke was permitted to leave the prison at

once.

Wagner took him away in his bendi, and on their arrival at the office, kindly used his best endeavours to cheer up his crestfallen clerk.

Nitschke, however, was greatly distressed at the untoward event, less on his own account, as he expressed to Wagner, than for the annoyance it had caused his employer, who, he was afraid, would now repent having had anything to do with him. But Wagner reassured him, by expressing a hope that he would persevere in his course of reform, and continue to do his duty as he had commenced, urging him to keep up his spirits as doubtless all would turn out well.

Nitschke, in thanking Wagner for his kind solicitude, told him that an idea had flashed across his mind on leaving the police-station, which might probably prove serviceable in his defence.

"What is it then?"

"It is simply this, that my toothpick case found in the office, was not left or dropped there by me."

"No?" said Wagner, astounded. "How did it get there, then ?"

I

"That is more than I can understand. I am sure I took it out of my pocket after I left Heffken's. was so angry at being uncouthly treated by him, that I scarcely knew what I did. I remember that while I was standing in front of the house, I was about to put it back into my pocket; but when I saw him appear at the window, in my state of irritation and desire to quit the spot instantly, I must have dropped the case by accident." "But how could the article have found its way into the Company's office !"

"I can only suppose it possible that some one may have put it there on purpose, in order to fix the suspicion of the robbery upon me."

"It seems scarcely credible that anyone should hope to do so upon such slender grounds."

"But it has been sufficient you see, sir."

"Do you not suspect any one

?"

"Yes," said Nitschke deliberately; "but, pray allow me to remain silent on that point. I should not like to accuse any one wrongfully, so I will wait till I can obtain further proofs. When I am better prepared with these, I will tell you all about it.”

66

Why did not you say at the station, that you did not mislay your case in the office ?"

"It would not then have done me any good, sir, I am

sure.

But now that, thanks to your kindness, I am free, I hope soon to be on the track of the guilty man.'

After the morning had advanced, and the time for paying visits had arrived, Wagner ordered his carriage, and proceeded in it to Mr. Romelaer's.

When the bendi reached the house, Mr. Romelaer was out, and his wife was dressing; Marie had been down for two hours, and was endeavouring to wile away the time with music and reading. As soon as she heard the approach of a carriage she sprang up, and was not a little surprised to find the visitor was the very man she least of all then expected to see.

After the usual friendly salutation, Wagner said, "I hope you will not be annoyed with me for calling so early in the day, but I have a request to make. Is your mamma at home?"

"At home?-yes, yes-but-"

"Dressing I presume," said Wagner, smiling; "well, never mind--but where's papa ?"

"He is gone to the custom-house, and has not yet returned."

"Is anything the matter, Marie -you look vexed. Has anything unpleasant happened?"