fore their High Mightinesses, that I hold frequent and secret communications with the Austrian Netherlands and with England, a circumstance which I can easily and satisfactorily explain; but that I entertain an English spy in my house, one who, it can be proved, receives letters from the Queen of England, and people about the Court, who sends despatches in return, and is vehemently suspected of having given the information that led to the recent defeat of our fleet. Upon this statement, which is verified upon oath, the great council are at this moment sitting; and there can be little question that you will be instantly committed to prison, while I shall be cited to Amsterdam. Aha! young man, think of that! For myself, my wealth and influence, which are better than innocence, will presently get me clear; but the Government are sadly in want of some victim to appease the popular fury at our defeat; and, to deal candidly with you, I do not think your head is worth two days' purchase, if you remain in Holland. Aha! think of that!"

"Good heavens !" ejaculated Jocelyn, "they will not murder a man who can prove his innocence ?"

"They will give you no opportunity of establishing any such unwelcome truth," replied the Burgomaster. "You will be put purposely in the way of the enraged populace; and, after you have

been massacred, you can have no occasion for a trial."

"What, then, do you recommend me to do?" inquired Jocelyn, with some agitation.

"There is but one course to adopt," resumed the Burgomaster; "you must fly instantly. Circumstances, which I must not divulge, have occasioned a friend of mine, one of your countrymen, a Mr. Strickland, to secrete himself in the Austrian Netherlands; and it is my correspondence with this gentleman that has originated one of these rascally charges, which, instead of falling upon my own head, shall presently crush my accusers. I will not be acquitted only, but revenged. Quanto innocentior, tanto frontosior, as was said of Janus. I will pull down my accusers, were each of them as tall as the statue of Erasmus. Hey, Slapperloot! Adrian Beverning is not to be felled with a straw, nor pounded with a feather, aha!"

"But you were speaking of Mr. Strickland," interposed our hero.

"Donder ende blixem !" continued the indignant Burgomaster, not noticing this interruption; "am I to be cited to Amsterdam, as if I were a whippersnapper apprentice? Are they to issue their orders to a man of a million-think of that, Signor Cavaliero, to a man of a million, aha! as if he had not a stiver in his pouch? By de heere God! they had better catch a wild Tartar by the beard, or tweak the mustachioes of the Great Mogul. What were you saying, young man ?"

"You alluded to a Mr. Strickland," repeated Jocelyn.

"True, true; 'tis to his hiding-place, which is a sure and snug one, that I mean to consign you. He is timid, reserved, solitary, and will not like an interloper; but "Hy moet wel loopen die door de duivel gedreven woed;" how say you that in English? Quick! Signor Cavaliero, quick! Night draws on, and you must be down at Dordrecht before the moon is up. You shall have one of my servants to attend you, whom I have always employed in my communications with Strickland, because he speaks English as well as Dutch; and the pony he always rides, and which, by this time, must know the way blindfold, shall have the honour to convey you out of the territory of these domineering and suspicious Hooghen Mooghens. Never mind your effects, they shall follow you. Besides, better lose a hatbox than a head: so presto! are you ready?"

Jocelyn declared that he only required ten minutes for preparation; and hastily putting together, in a small valise, such articles as were more immediately necessary for his journey, he ran to take leave of Constantia. A confused murmur through the house, and the bustle incident to the Burgomaster's hasty arrangements, had prepared her for some unusual intelligence; but she started and changed colour when she understood the imminent danger with which he was threatened. "This is sudden, indeed," she exclaimed, "and not less pain

ful than unexpected. We shall miss you sadly, indeed we shall! To Haelbeck, did you say? then you will see my beautiful friend, Julia Strickland." -Casting her looks down to the ground at these words, she seemed for a few seconds to yield herself to some painful thought; but quickly raising up her head, and shaking back the locks that had fallen over her fine eyes, she continued with a proud animation: "and you will see the purest and noblest of her sex-one of whom I may well boast as my friend, and you as your countrywoman. But why waste we a moment, when your safety is at stake? For God's sake! fly, Mr. Compton! every instant is precious.'

"I have first a restoration to make," said Jocelyn, "which I ought to apologise to Miss Beverning for not having sooner performed" and he put into her hands the white scarf of which he had kept possession ever since the Tournament at Paris.

Perhaps Constantia was rather piqued that he had not evinced a greater disposition to retain it as a memorial; for as she received it she replied coldly, if not proudly-"It is a trifle, Sir, which I had altogether forgotten." In a moment, however, her tenderness returned, and, holding out her hand to Jocelyn, she exclaimed," Farewell, Mr. Compton; lose not another second, I implore you! You are innocent; you will have the consolations of religion. God grant that you may be happy!" As if afraid of trusting herself any longer to the

emotions that were already imparting a tremulousness to her voice, and beginning to suffuse her eyes, she bowed with an affectionate look to Jocelyn, and walked hastily out of the room.

"Aha, Sir Lansridder! Sir Knight of the Lance," cried the Burgomaster, who was coming to hasten his departure, though he had stopped on the way to clear his pipe with a silver picker; "the horses are waiting; better five hours too soon, than as many seconds too late: your head may move off before you do, if you linger in Rotterdam. Think of that, young man! Here is a letter to my friend Strickland. Away with you over the frontiers ; write to me if you want money and so fare thee well, Signor Cavaliero! Dii tibi dent quæ velis!" With this valedictory prayer and a hearty shake of the hand, the worthy Burgomaster took his leave ; Jocelyn immediately mounted his pony, trotted along the streets, followed by his Anglo-Dutch servant, passed through the gate, and turned his back upon the populous, busy, and thriving city of Rotterdam.