van Roselaer."

"She married a French nobleman, if I recollect aright?"

"A Belgian, General: Baron d'Hermaele."

"Well, yes, it was during the French occupation of the country under
Napoleon I.; and in those days one did not pay so much attention to
nationality. Our disagreement with Freule Sophia prevented our making
his acquaintance. He settled in Belgium, and I heard afterwards that
Baron d'Hermaele stood in high favour at court in the reign of King
William I."

"This court favour cost him his life," I added, "for he remained
faithful to his king during the Belgian Revolution; his castle near
Larken was pillaged and burnt by the populace, and he himself cruelly
murdered whilst defending his wife and children."

"Another fact out of those sad and confused times which I so well
remember. My men were burning with rage to punish such rebels and
brigands, but, alas! they were kept inactive. What became of the
widow and children?"

"She returned to Holland with one son and seven daughters, of whom the
eldest married my father, Jonker van Zonshoven. I am their only son."

"Then I am your great-uncle, Jonker."

"I have made the same calculation, General, and it is for this
reason----"

"You don't come to talk to me about family affairs, I hope?" he
interrupted, growing uncomfortable.

"But, my dear uncle, we can speak of family affairs without their
necessarily causing unpleasantness."

"Hum! Well, you are a Van Zonshoven, a stranger to all the pitiful
feuds which have separated me from the Roselaers. Whole treasures
have been thrown away on the lawsuits they have brought against
me. Francis and I are both still suffering from such losses. Look
here, if you bring any painful news for Francis, or any humiliating
tidings for me--I know that even the validity of my Swiss marriage is
contested--I beseech you, be generous, spare her as long as possible,
for she is ignorant of this fact. Perhaps, old and broken though I
be by trials, I can ward off the evil day a little longer; but be
sincere and tell me plainly----"

"I assure you, General, my chief desire--as I have already told Miss
Mordaunt--is to save you every kind of trouble I can. I wish simply
to draw family ties closer, and my most ardent desire is that a Van
Zonshoven may have the good fortune to heal the wounds caused by
the Roselaers."

"Many things are necessary! Much money! As we soldiers say, gold
is the sinews of war--and, pardon me if I make a