ntioned, and which
had become their favourite resort. Father Mathias had contracted a
great intimacy with Father Seysen, and the two priests were almost as
inseparable as were Philip and Amine. Having determined to wait a
summons previous to Philip's again entering upon his strange and fearful
task; and, happy in the possession of each other, the subject was seldom
revived. Philip, who had, on his return, expressed his wish to the
Directors of the Company for immediate employment, and, if possible, to
have the command of a vessel, had, since that period, taken no further
steps, nor had had any communication with Amsterdam.

"I am fond of this bank, Philip," said Amine; "I appear to have formed
an intimacy with it. It was here, if you recollect, that we debated the
subject of the lawfulness of inducing dreams; and it was here, dear
Philip, that you told me your dream, and that I expounded it."

"You did so, Amine; but if you ask the opinion of Father Seysen, you
will find that he would give rather a strong decision against you--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 I 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