Van Nerekool then went on to tell him how very powerfully he had felt himself attracted to the young girl; but that hitherto he had not allowed a single word to betray his feelings. What had passed between them was mere conversation, in which he had indeed discovered how fresh and ingenuous the young girl was; but which had never gone further than the merest every-day talk, and had entirely been confined to little compliments, and to those harmless encounters of wit in which young people who are fairly gifted, and are not particularly anxious to hide their light under a bushel, are wont to indulge. He was absolutely certain that Anna was wholly unconscious of what was passing in his bosom. But he continued to tell his friends, that on a certain evening, it was getting rather late, a Javanese servant had brought him a note in which dear little Anna had begged him to come at once and see her at the Residence.
William Verstork could not help smiling at this communication.
“Pray don’t laugh,” cried Charles gravely, “although I cannot help confessing that very strange thoughts forced themselves upon me also. It was so strange, was it not? So wholly contrary to the usages of society that a young girl should write such a letter at such a time. At the time I could only look upon it as an étourderie, a thoughtless action; but I am glad to tell you I soon found out my mistake. The dear girl saw me appear at her father’s house without showing the slightest symptom of confusion, and soon convinced me that she had excellent reasons for her seemingly strange conduct. As it was not at all an unusual thing for me to accompany her, it could not awaken any one’s suspicion, that we took our places at the piano in the brilliantly lighted inner gallery. Then I learnt why Anna had thus strangely summoned me. She wished to invoke my assistance for a certain Javanese, who is the lover and is to be the future husband of her baboe; and who now lies under a charge of opium-smuggling.”
Thereupon van Nerekool told his friends all he had heard from Anna, about Ardjan’s ill-treatment, and about the opium discovered at the Moeara Tjatjing.
When he had finished speaking, William Verstork again said feelingly: “It is very sad!”
“Yes, it is very sad,” rejoined Charles, totally misunderstanding the meaning of his friend’s words. “But I hope the Javanese will not be found guilty.”
“And,” asked Verstork deliberately, “And—your affection for this girl is, you say, very strong?”
“Well,” resumed van Nerekool, “since that evening I have, as Edward has told you, had frequent opportunities of meeting my dear Anna, sometimes at the Zuidhoorns’, sometimes at the Commandant’s, and sometimes at her parents’ house; and I have had frequent conversations with her on the subject of this unfortunate police-case. And every time I have seen her I have received stronger and stronger proofs—”
“Of the innocence of the Javanese, I suppose!” said van Rheijn, somewhat playfully.
“No, not so,” said van Nerekool, “but of the goodness of her heart, of the true nobility of her soul and of the honesty and purity of her character. And—my dear old friends, I must confess it, I am now entirely under her spell.”