erica, knew--that the cold,
stiff, haughty, tyrannical, overbearing manner of the lean professor had
made him exceedingly unpopular; that the students disliked him even to
the degree of hating him; that if he had ever had any influence with
them, he had lost it by his ridiculous sternness and stupid precision.
Mr. Hamblin did not know this, but everybody else did.

"Don't you know this writing, Mr. Stoute?" demanded the irate man of
Greek roots, after an attentive study of the note.

"I do not."

"I do!" added Mr. Hamblin, decidedly.

"You are fortunate then. If we can unearth the culprit, he will be
severely punished."

"I am not so clear on that point. This note was written by Captain
Kendall."

"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Stoute, seizing the note, and examining more
attentively than he had done before the writing it contained.

It did look like Paul's writing. It was his style, and there were not
more than two students in the Josephine who could have composed the
French in the document. Those two were Paul and Duncan. But Mr. Stoute
was unwilling to believe that the captain would resort to such a
proceeding.

"I shall charge him with it," added Mr. Hamblin.

"I advise you not to do it without more evidence than you have yet
obtained," said Mr. Stoute, seriously.

"After we return to the vessel I shall probably be able to obtain some
proof," continued Mr. Hamblin, as he put the letter in his pocket.

When they went to look for the rest of the party, they found them
forming a line in the square. Present with Mr. Lowington was his
excellency, the governor of Antwerp, who had just invited the company to
visit the palace gardens. In even lines, with the officers in their
proper places, the procession marched across the park and through the
gates, at which a file of Belgian soldiers presented arms to them. In
the garden they formed a line on one of the walks. Near the palace,
walking to and fro, was an old gentleman, but still erect and manly,
with a glittering decoration on his breast. Several other persons, most
of them dressed in uniform, or decked with orders, were standing near
the old gentleman.

Presently the governor of Antwerp approached the ship's company,
attended by an officer to whom Mr. Lowington was introduced. The three
then walked towards the old gentleman, to whom the principal was
presented. The venerable personage bowed gracefully, but did not offer
to shake hands, or indulge in any repu