Philip turned round, and stammered something unintelligible.

“We were talking of his sister, Commandant,” said Krantz, taking his arm, and leading him away.—­“Do not mention the subject to my friend, for it is a very painful one, and forms one reason why he is so inimical to the sex.  She was married to his intimate friend, and ran away from her husband:  it was his only sister; and the disgrace broke his mother’s heart, and has made him miserable.  Take no notice of it, I beg.”

“No, no, certainly not; I don’t wonder at it:  the honour of one’s family is a serious affair,” replied the Commandant.—­“Poor young man, what with his sister’s conduct, and the falsehood of his own intended, I don’t wonder at his being so grave and silent.  Is he of good family, signor?”

“One of the noblest in all Holland,” replied Krantz;—­“he is heir to a large property, and independent by the fortune of his mother; but these two unfortunate events induced him to quit the States secretly, and he embarked for these countries that he might forget his grief.”

“One of the noblest families?” replied the Commandant;—­“then he is under an assumed name—­Jacob Vantreat is not his true name, of course.”

“Oh no,” replied Krantz;—­“that it is not, I assure you; but my lips are sealed on that point.”

“Of course, except to a friend, who can keep a secret.  I will not ask it now.  So he is really noble?”

“One of the highest families in the country, possessing great wealth and influence—­allied to the Spanish nobility by marriage.”

“Indeed!” rejoined the Commandant, musing—­“I dare say he knows many of the Portuguese as well.”

“No doubt of it, they are all more or less connected.”

“He must prove to you a most valuable friend, Signor Richter.”

“I consider myself provided for for life as soon as we return home.  He is of a very grateful, generous disposition, as he would prove to you, should you ever fall in with him again.”

“I have no doubt of it; and I can assure you that I am heartily tired of staying in this country.  Here I shall remain probably for two years more before I am relieved, and then shall have to join my regiment at Goa, and not be able to obtain leave to return home without resigning my commission.  But he is coming this way.”

After this conversation with Krantz, the alteration in the manner of the Portuguese Commandant, who had the highest respect for nobility, was most marked.  He treated Philip with a respect, which was observable to all in the fort; and which was, until Krantz had explained the cause, a source of astonishment to Philip himself.  The Commandant often introduced the subject to Krantz, and sounded him as to whether his conduct towards Philip had been such, as to have made a favourable impression; for the little man now hoped, that, through such an influential channel, he might reap some benefit.