ver to be effaced, and disaffection may soon be magnified into
high treason."

"Bless me!" exclaimed Van Krause, crossing his hands on his heart in
utter despair. "My dear Mynheer Ramsay, will you give me your opinion
how I should act?"

"There is no saying how far you may be right in your conjectures,
Mynheer Krause," replied Ramsay: "you may have been mistaken."

"No, no, he frowned--looked cross--I see his face now."

"Yes, but a little thing will sour the face of royalty, his corn may
have pinched him, at the time he might have had a twinge in the
bowels--his voyage may have affected him."

"He smiled upon others, upon my friend, Engelback, very graciously."

This was the very party who had prepared the charges against Krause--his
own very particular friend.

"Did he?" replied Ramsay. "Then depend upon it, that's the very man who
has belied you."

"What, Engelback? my particular friend?"

"Yes, I should imagine so. Tell me, Mynheer Krause, I trust you have
never entrusted to him the important secrets which I have made you
acquainted with, for if you have, your knowledge of them would be quite
sufficient."

"My knowledge of them. I really cannot understand that. How can my
knowledge of what is going on among the king's friends and councillors
be a cause of suspicion?"

"Why, Mynheer Krause, because the king is surrounded by many who are
retained from policy and fear of them. If these secrets are made known
contrary to oath, is it not clear that the parties so revealing them
must be no sincere friends of his Majesty's, and will it not be
naturally concluded that those who have possession of them, are equally
his open or secret enemies."

"But then, Mynheer Ramsay, by that rule you must be his Majesty's
enemy."

"That does not follow, Mynheer Krause, I may obtain the secrets from
those who are not so partial to his Majesty as they are to me, but that
does not disprove my loyalty. To expose them would of course render me
liable to suspicion--but I guard them carefully. I have not told a word
to a soul, but to you, my dear Mynheer Krause, and I have felt assured
that you were much too loyal to make known to anyone, what it was your
duty to your king to keep secret; surely, Mynheer Krause, you have not
trusted that man?"

"I may have given a hint or so--I'm afraid that I did; but he is my most
particular friend."

"If that is the case," replied Ramsay, "I am not at all surprised at the
king's frowning