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--he would call it heretical and damnable." "Let him, if he pleases. I have no objection to tell him." "I pray not, Amine; let the secret remain with ourselves only." "Think you Father Mathias would blame me?" "I certainly do." "Well, I do not; there is a kindness and liberality about the old man that I admire. I should like to argue the question with him." As Amine spoke, Philip felt something touch his shoulder, and a sudden chill ran through his frame. In a moment his ideas reverted to the probable cause: he turned round his head, and, to his amazement, beheld the (supposed to be drowned) mate of the _Ter Schilling_, the one-eyed Schriften, who stood behind him, with a letter in his hand. The sudden appearance of this malignant wretch induced Philip to exclaim, "Merciful heaven! is it possible?" Amine, who had turned her head round at the exclamation of Philip, covered up her face, and burst into tears. It was not fear that caused this unusual emotion on her part, but the conviction that her husband was never to be at rest but in the grave. "Philip Vanderdecken," said Schriften, "he! he! I've a letter for you--it is from the Company." Philip took the letter, but, previous to opening it, he fixed his eyes upon Schriften. "I thought," said he, "that you were drowned when the ship was wrecked in False Bay. How did you escape?" "How did I escape?" replied Schriften. "Allow me to ask how did you escape?" "I was thrown up by the waves," replied Philip; "but--" "But," interrupted Schriften, "he! he! the waves ought _not_ to have thrown me up." "And why not, pray? I did not say that." "No! but I presume you wish it had been so; but, on the contrary, I escaped in the same way that you did--I was thrown up by the waves--he! he! but I can't wait here. I have done my bidding." "Stop," replied Philip; answer me one question. "Do you sail in the same vessel with me this time?" "I'd rather be excused," replied Schriften; "I am not looking for the Phantom Ship, Mynheer Vanderdecken;" and, with this reply, the little man turned round and went away at a rapid pace. "Is not this a summons, Amine?" said Philip, after a pause, still holding the letter in his hand, with the seal unbroken. "I will not deny it, dearest Philip. It is most surely so; the hateful messenger appears to have risen from the grave that he might deliver it. Forgive me, Philip; but I was taken by surprise. I will not again an
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