“ ‘She spoke to you then of your future prospects, as well as on the subject of your present request?’ asked the Resident.
“ ‘Yes, Resident,’ was my reply,—indeed I was growing very nervous.
“ ‘Well, then,’ resumed he, ‘you see that you have the making of your career entirely in your own hands; and I do hope that you will now at length prove yourself a man of some practical common sense.’
“My dear William! at these words, which, you will notice, cast a grave suspicion upon the motive of my request, upon which, however, my entire happiness depended, I felt, as it were, the ground sinking away from under me.
“ ‘But, Resident,’ I cried, in despair, ‘do you really know what Mrs. van Gulpendam did propose to me?’
“ ‘Well, yes,’ he said, in a very off-hand and somewhat mocking manner, ‘pretty well, pretty well, I think. She held out to you the prospect of being appointed successor to the present Chairman of the Council at Santjoemeh, which important position, I think she told you, might very probably be permanently conferred upon you. Further she did not refuse you her daughter’s hand—whom you declare that you love so very dearly. You see I am pretty well informed. Now, if you have called upon me this morning to ascertain what guarantees I can give you that these proposals will be realised—and allow me to tell you that is the course a sensible man would certainly take—then, I think I may say, you need not be uneasy.’
“This utterly false interpretation of my motives, stung me to the quick. What ignoble thoughts and sentiments must have been stirring in that bosom!
“ ‘Mr. van Gulpendam!’ I cried out, interrupting him, very warmly, ‘I was not in the least thinking of those proposals. Still less, if possible, did I call here this morning in order to ascertain your intentions—nothing of all this was present to my mind when I asked you whether you were aware of the offers Mrs. van Gulpendam made me last night.’
“ ‘Indeed,’ said he very coolly, ‘then I fear I have misunderstood you altogether, Mr. van Nerekool. In that case with what intention did you put that question to me?’
“ ‘What was my intention?’ I replied. ‘Why, my intention was simply this. Are you aware that Mrs. van Gulpendam asked me to violate my oath and my duty?’