"I do!" added Mr. Hamblin, decidedly.
"You are fortunate then. If we can unearth the culprit, he will be severely punished."
"I am not so clear on that point. This note was written by Captain Kendall."
"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Stoute, seizing the note, and examining more attentively than he had done before the writing it contained.
It did look like Paul's writing. It was his style, and there were not more than two students in the Josephine who could have composed the French in the document. Those two were Paul and Duncan. But Mr. Stoute was unwilling to believe that the captain would resort to such a proceeding.
"I shall charge him with it," added Mr. Hamblin.
"I advise you not to do it without more evidence than you have yet obtained," said Mr. Stoute, seriously.
"After we return to the vessel I shall probably be able to obtain some proof," continued Mr. Hamblin, as he put the letter in his pocket.
When they went to look for the rest of the party, they found them forming a line in the square. Present with Mr. Lowington was his excellency, the governor of Antwerp, who had just invited the company to visit the palace gardens. In even lines, with the officers in their proper places, the procession marched across the park and through the gates, at which a file of Belgian soldiers presented arms to them. In the garden they formed a line on one of the walks. Near the palace, walking to and fro, was an old gentleman, but still erect and manly, with a glittering decoration on his breast. Several other persons, most of them dressed in uniform, or decked with orders, were standing near the old gentleman.
Presently the governor of Antwerp approached the ship's company, attended by an officer to whom Mr. Lowington was introduced. The three then walked towards the old gentleman, to whom the principal was presented. The venerable personage bowed gracefully, but did not offer to shake hands, or indulge in any republican familiarities.