CHAPTER XXVII.
AND LAST, CONTAINING A TOLERABLY HAPPY ENDING.
Upon his return to the palace, to which place we accompanied him, the Pangeran gave Marie permission to choose her day of departure, further promising to send an escort with her to Batavia.
“That will be as soon as my cousins are prepared to set out,” she replied, quickly.
“Then the day is distant, for the Sahibs dare not—it would be unwise—entrust themselves in Batavia until we hear in what odor they stand with the Dutch Government; but let them rest content beneath this roof until I can send a messenger, who will prove to his Excellency that their association with Prabu and his crew was from accident, not design.”
“Be it distant or near, Prince,” replied Marie, “I will not enter Batavia without them.”
“Be it so,” replied the Pangeran; “in the meantime, let the preservers of my daughter’s life regard themselves as my sons beneath this roof;” and then we parted for the night, waiting until the next day for explanations.
“Now, Marie,” said I, the following morning, when we were all together, “tell us the story of your adventures since our parting.”
“Oh!” she replied, “there is not much to tell. Well, of course I was terribly frightened when that old hunchback, the snake-charmer, entered my room, and, without a word, bandaged my eyes and carried me off; but as we went through the streets of the city, he spoke kindly words, telling me I had no harm to fear if I would not attempt to get away; and I really believe he meant what he said: but when, taking me to a house, and pushing me into a room, he desired me to change my dress for another that I should find at hand, and to be careful to leave also my watch, locket, and purse, I had no doubt that both robbery and murder was his intention, and I prayed and cried, and cried and prayed terribly.”
“I now see how Mynheer came by the jewels and clothes; it was a cunning conspiracy,” said Martin.
“Why, what did he say about them?” she asked.