King William was received by the authorities at the landing-stairs, and from thence he stepped into the carriage, awaiting him, and drove off to his palace at the Hague; much to the relief of Mr Vanslyperken, who felt ill at ease in the presence of his sovereign.  When his Majesty put his foot on shore, the foremost to receive him, in virtue of his office, was the syndic Mynheer Van Krause, who, in full costume of gown, chains, and periwig, bowed low, as his Majesty advanced, expecting as usual the gracious smile and friendly nod of his sovereign; but to his mortification, his reverence was returned with a grave, if not stern air, and the king passed him without further notice.  All the courtiers also, who had been accustomed to salute, and to exchange a few words with him, to his astonishment turned their heads another way.  At first, Mynheer Van Krause could hardly believe his senses, he who had always been so graciously received, who had been considered most truly as such a staunch supporter of his king, to be neglected, mortified in this way, and without cause.  Instead of following his Majesty to his carriage, with the rest of the authorities, he stood still and transfixed, the carriage drove off, and the syndic hardly replying to some questions put to him, hurried back to his own house in a state of confusion and vexation almost indescribable.  He hastened upstairs and entered the room of Ramsay, who was very busy with the despatches which he had received.  “Well, Mynheer Van Krause, how is his Majesty looking,” inquired Ramsay, who knew that the syndic had been down to receive him on his landing.

Mynheer Krause threw himself down in a chair, threw open his gown, and uttered a deep sigh.

“What is the matter, my dear sir, you appear ruffled,” continued Ramsay, who from the extracts made by Vanslyperken from the despatches, was aware that suspicions had been lodged against his host.

“Such treatment—­to one of his most devoted followers,” exclaimed Krause, at last, who then entered into a detail of what had occurred.

“Such is the sweet aspect, the smile, we would aspire to of kings, Mynheer Krause.”

“But there must be some occasion for all this,” observed the syndic.

“No doubt of it,” replied Ramsay—­“some reason—­but not a just one.”

“That is certain,” replied the syndic, “some one must have maligned me to his Majesty.”

“It may be,” replied Ramsay, “but there may be other causes, kings are suspicious, and subjects may be too rich and too powerful.  There are many paupers among the favourites of his Majesty, who would be very glad to see your property confiscated, and you cast into prison.”

“But, my dear sir,—­”

“You forget also, that the Jacobites are plotting, and have been plotting for years; that conspiracy is formed upon conspiracy, and that when so surrounded and opposed, kings will be suspicious.”

“But his Majesty, King William,—­”