“Indeed?  Ah, well, I will take them all the same.  And now I must bid you good-bye, Mr. Benett, though I hope to see you again very soon.”

Sylvius Hogg now left the establishment, and walked briskly in the direction of the Hotel du Nord.

On entering the vestibule his eyes fell upon the words Fiat lux, which are inscribed upon the hall lamp.

“Ah! these Latin words are certainly very appropriate,” he said to himself, “Yes. Fiat lux!  Fiat lux!”

Hulda was still in her room, sitting by the window.  The professor rapped at the door, which was instantly opened.

“Oh.  Monsieur Sylvius!” cried the girl, delightedly.

“Yes, here I am, here I am!  But never mind about Monsieur Sylvius now; our attention must be devoted to breakfast, which is ready and waiting.  I’m as hungry as a wolf.  Where is Joel?”

“In the reading-room.”

“Well, I will go in search of him.  You, my dear child, must come right down and join us.”

Sylvius Hogg left the room and went to find Joel, who was also waiting for him, but in a state of mind bordering upon despair.  The poor fellow immediately showed the professor the copy of the “Morgen-Blad,” containing the discouraging telegram from the commander of the “Telegraph.”

“Hulda has not seen it, I hope?” inquired the professor, hastily.

“No, I thought it better to conceal from her as long as possible what she will learn only too soon.”

“You did quite right, my boy.  Let us go to breakfast.”

A moment afterward all three were seated at a table in a private dining-room, and Sylvius Hogg began eating with great zest.

An excellent breakfast it was, equal in fact to any dinner, as you can judge from the menu.  Cold beer soup, salmon with egg sauce, delicious veal cutlets, rare roast beef, a delicate salad, vanilla ice, raspberry and cherry preserver—­the whole moistened with some very fine claret.

“Excellent, excellent!” exclaimed Sylvius Hogg.  “Why, we can almost imagine ourselves in Dame Hansen’s inn at Dal.”

And as his mouth was otherwise occupied his eyes smiled as much as it is possible for eyes to smile.

Joel and Hulda endeavored to reply in the same strain, but they could not, and the poor girl tasted scarcely anything.  When the repast was concluded: 

“My children,” said Sylvius Hogg, “you certainly failed to do justice to a very excellent breakfast.  Still, I can not compel you to eat, and if you go without breakfast you are likely to enjoy your dinner all the more, while I very much doubt if I shall be able to compete with you to-night.  Now, it is quite time for us to leave the table.”

The professor was already upon his feet, and he was about to take the hat Joel handed him, when Hulda checked him by saying: 

“Monsieur Sylvius, do you still insist that I shall accompany you?”