Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/71

 letters miscarry. I also had a letter from the Colonel about a month ago, in which he desired me to render legal assistance to Madame La Tour and her daughter. These ladies have fallen heirs to a handsome property, through the death of a relative in Amsterdam, and they have come to Brussels to establish their claims. Madame and her daughter are relatives of yours, are they not?”

“They are cousins, several times removed. Monsieur La Tour, a French Huguenot, married my father's second cousin. I have not seen them for many years, for they resided in France, I always fancied that my brother had more than a cousinly regard for Katharine La Tour. But I think I have been mistaken. I have been told by those wiser than myself that a man's heart is like a ship, which is ever prone to slip its moorings.”

Hilvardine looked archly at her companion.

“Mejuffrouw,” said the young advocate earnestly, “you have been poorly advised. I beg of you to listen to a truthful argument on the subject. There are some men who possess faithful hearts. Mine, for instance, has long since left my keeping and is, I assure you, stoutly anchored. Can you not divine my meaning, Mistress Van Straalen?”

“I was ever a poor hand at guessing riddles, Heer Chenoweth.”

Conrad took her hand and exclaimed, “Hilvardine, look at me!”