“It is a very sad thing,” said Verstork most seriously.
“But what the deuce do you mean—‘by your very sad thing?’ ” cried Charles, somewhat out of patience.
“Your affection for her, my dearest friend,” said the other; “you are laying up for yourself a very sad future.”
“But how so?” cried Charles.
“My dear friend,” said Verstork, “I ask you to give me a week to answer that question.”
“Why,” cried van Nerekool, “you talk as if you had to pronounce a sentence. Come, there’s a good fellow, out with it at once.”
“Next Saturday,” said Verstork, “I intend to come again to Santjoemeh and, take my word for it, then I will give you an answer.”
Whatever efforts van Nerekool might make, he could make nothing more out of the mysterious controller, and he had to rest content with the promise of a full explanation on the next Saturday.