Philip then left the room, and went into the kitchen.  Having ordered what was requisite, to be taken into the parlour, he put on his hat and walked out of the house.  He could not eat; his mind was in a state of confusion; the events of the morning had been too harassing and exciting, and he felt as if the fresh air was necessary to his existence.

As he proceeded, careless in which direction, he met many with whom he had been acquainted, and from whom he had received condolence at his supposed bereavement, and congratulations when they learnt from him that the danger was over; and from them he also learnt how fatal had been the pestilence.

Not one-third of the inhabitants of Terneuse and the surrounding country remained alive, and those who had recovered were in a state of exhaustion which prevented them from returning to their accustomed occupations.  They had combated disease, but remained the prey of misery and want; and Philip mentally vowed that he would appropriate all his savings to the relief of those around him.  It was not until more than two hours had passed away that Philip returned to the cottage.

On his arrival he found that Amine still slumbered, and the two priests were in conversation below.

“My son,” said Father Seysen, “let us now have a little explanation.  I have had a long conference with this good Father, who hath much interested me with his account of the extension of our holy religion among the Pagans.  He hath communicated to me much to rejoice at and much to grieve for; but, among other questions put to him, I have (in consequence of what I have learnt during the mental alienation of your wife) interrogated him upon the point of a supernatural appearance of a vessel in the eastern seas.  You observe, Philip, that your secret is known to me, or I could not have put that question.  To my surprise, he hath stated a visitation of the kind to which he was eye-witness, and which cannot reasonably be accounted for, except by supernatural interposition.  A strange and certainly most awful visitation!  Philip, would it not be better (instead of leaving me in a maze of doubt) that you now confided to us both all the facts connected with this strange history, so that we may ponder on them, and give you the benefit of the advice of those who are older than yourself, and who, by their calling may be able to decide more correctly whether this supernatural power has been exercised by a good or evil intelligence?”

“The holy Father speaks well, Philip Vanderdecken,” observed Mathias.

“If it be the work of the Almighty, to whom should you confide and by whom should you be guided, but by those who do His service on this earth?  If of the Evil One, to whom but to those whose duty and wish it is to counteract his baneful influence?  And reflect, Philip, that this secret may sit heavily on the mind of your cherished wife, and may bow her to the grave, as it did your (I trust) sainted mother.