“I am not at all afraid of that,” replied the captain. “He will find an excellent stable at the Steenvlaks.” Then he rose and went to give the necessary orders to get the horse saddled.
“Miss van Gulpendam was staying: with the Steenvlaks—” said the lady of the house, her curiosity thoroughly aroused at this sudden resolution on the part of van Nerekool.
“You are right, madam” replied Murowski. “You see it is very probable that Mr. Steenvlak may know where the young lady is to be found, and we might then break the sad news gently to her.”
Meanwhile Grenits had been asking van Nerekool what he intended to do.
“She cannot now refuse to give me a few words to Anna,” was his reply. “In such terrible circumstances a true friend’s advice may be of the greatest value. Do you not approve of my plan?”
Theodoor merely nodded assent while he warmly pressed his friend’s hand.
Ten minutes later van Nerekool was in the saddle and was galloping along the road to Karang Anjer. When he arrived there he found the Steenvlaks had already been informed of the terrible event; for the Assistant Resident also had received a telegram from Santjoemeh.