"Call him agarçon" said Grossbeck.
"Garçon!" shouted Lynch.
"Monsieur," replied the man.
"Bring me thebur."
"You might as well call for a Canada thistle," laughed Duncan, who was one of the best French scholars in the Josephine.
"I want some butter; I have eaten up all thebif-stek, and all thepomme de terres, and now I want some bread and butter. These fellows don't understand their own language."
"M'apportez du beurre," added Duncan.
"Oui, oui, oui!" exclaimed the waiter, producing the required article.
"That's the idea," replied Lynch; "that man's improving. But thisbeurreis so fresh I can't eat it; I want some salt."
"Call for it, then," laughed Duncan.
"I will; here's a go.Garçon, mapperty sellier!"
"Good!" roared Duncan. "If we had a saddle of mutton for supper, I should suppose you would want what you called for."
"I want the salt."
"I thought you did; and that's the reason why you called for a saddler."
"I didn't call for any saddler. I saidsellier."
"Precisely so; and that is a saddler."
"What shall I say?"
"Sel."
"Sel;sellier. Well, I knew there was a sell about it somewhere."
"Precisely; but you were sold. I advise you not to make any long speeches in French."
"You may bet your life I shall not," replied Lynch.
"Just mention the thing you want in one word; then you won't confusegarçon'sintellect by flooding it with ideas."
"Garçon—sel," added Lynch, acting upon this excellent advice.
The waiter brought thesel, and nobody was sold this time.
"I think I shall pick up the French language in time," added Lynch, encouraged by his success.
"Perhaps you will, but the Hôtel Royal will have crumbled to dust before that happy event occurs."
There was any quantity of blunders made at the table, and some of the students had nearly choked themselves to death with laughing at them, and at the blank looks of the waiters when spoken to in a tongue which Mr. Fluxion declared sounded more like Low Dutch than decent French. Mr. Molenschot laughed too, and intimated that "my hotel" had never been so lively before.
"What now, Captain Kendall?" said Mr. Fluxion, when the supper and the blunders had ended.
"My officers and crew wish to take a little walk," replied Paul.
"What! to-night?. It is after ten o'clock."
"They wish to see how 'Belgium's capital' looks in the evening."
"Of course you can do as you think best; but I advise you to be cautious with them. They may get into trouble in a strange city, or get lost. If some of them can't speak French any better than they did at supper, they will have to go to the watch-house, because they can't ask the way back."
"They can sayHôtel Royal. None of my crew have ever got into trouble since the ship's company was organized," added Paul, who wanted to go out himself, and could not deny to others what he took himself.
The permission was given to walk till eleven o'clock, but the boys were admonished to behave properly, and to return punctually. Lynch and Grossbeck, who still clung together as fast friends, left the hotel in company.
"This is jolly—isn't it?" said Lynch, as they passed out of the Rue Fossé aux Loups into the Place de la Monnaie, a small square in front of the Théâtre Royal.
"For less than an hour," added Grossbeck, gloomily.
"We don't understand French, and so we can't tell what time it is," laughed Lynch.
"That won't go down. We were told to be back at eleven."
"But if we don't know what time it is, we can't be tied to the bell-rope."
"No use; the captain knows the boom from the bobstay, and if he isn't a Knight of the Golden Fleece, you can't pull wool over his eyes. You know he put McDougal through this morning."
"Well, come along. We'll have a good time while it does last," replied Lynch, apparently appalled by recalling the summary treatment of his shipmate.
"Everybody seems to be having a good time here," said Grossbeck, as they passed acafé, in front of which were a great number of small tables, at which gentlemen were drinking, smoking, and carrying on noisy conversation. "I don't see any reason why we should not. What are they drinking there?"
"Beer, or wine, I suppose," answered Lynch, as he led the way he knew not whither, turning to the left, because the street in that direction looked more lively than the others.
There was nothing to be seen, as most of the shops were closed; but they continued on their way till they came to a kind of arcade, a building which contained a broad passage-way, opening from the street, with a large number of little shops on either side.
The interior was brilliantly lighted, and most of the small stores were devoted to fancy goods and other showy articles. The young seamen entered the arcade, in which many people were promenading.
"They say this city is a second edition of Paris on a small scale," continued Lynch. "This is very well got up; but from what I have seen of the town, it looks like a one-horse city. The streets are not much wider than a cow-path."
"But they say it is like Paris," added Grossbeck.
"My eyes! there's a clock that speaks English! It is half past ten," exclaimed Lynch. "But I'm not going back to the Hôtel Royal till I've had a little fun. There's a what-you-call-it, where they sell wine. Let's go in, and see what it's like."
The place indicated was a wine-shop, and the two boys entered, seating themselves at one of the little tables. The prompt waiter came to them, bowed and scraped, and flourished a napkin, and hinted that he would be happy to take their order.
"What will you have, Grossbeck?"
"I'll take a glass of wine."
"Let's see you take it!" laughed Lynch. "What shall we call for? I don't remember a word of French, now that I want to use it."
"Perhaps thegarçoncan speak English. Ask him."
"Ask him? What shall I say?"
"O, I know.Parlez-vous Angleterre?" added Grossbeck, turning to the waiter.
"Non, monsieur," replied the waiter, who did not speak "England."
"O, confound it! What's the Dutch for wine?" demanded Lynch, impatiently.
"I know—eau de vie.Garçon, eau de vie," replied Grossbeck, confidently.
The waiter disappeared, and presently returned with a small decanter and two minute wine-glasses.
"I kneweau de viewould bring it," added Grossbeck, as he filled the little glasses.
"That's pretty strong wine," said Lynch, whenhe had swallowed the contents of the glass with a very wry face.
"That's so."
They looked about them till the clock indicated that it was time to start for the hotel; but they decided to repeat the dose from the decanter, and did so.
"That's the strongest wine I ever drank," said Grossbeck.
"How much is it?" asked Lynch.
"Let's see—combien?"
"Un franc cinquante centimes," replied the waiter, after he had glanced at a gauge on the decanter which indicated the quantity of the fiery fluid that had been consumed.
Neither of them could understand the answer, and Grossbeck handed thegarçona franc. The man shook his head, and held out his hand for more. Lynch gave him another franc, and he returned a half franc piece.
"Pour boire?" said the man with a winning smile.
"Poor bwar! Who's he?" demanded Lynch, in whose head the strong water was producing its effect. "He means 'poor boy.' I say, Grossbeck, does he think I'm—I'm sizzled? I feel so myself. Come, let's go."
They rose, and moved in a serpentine path to the door.
"Pour boire?" repeated thegarçon, following them.
"That's what's the matter. I'm a poor boy! Iwas a fool to drink more'n one nip of your camphene," hickuped Lynch. "Here, old fellow, here's a half of one of those francs. Don't say nothing more about it. I'm a poor boy, but I shall get over it."
The young tippler handed the half-franc piece to the waiter, who bowed, scraped, flourished his napkin, and fled.
"I say, Grossbeck, you and I are two bigger fools than Napoleon was when he went to Russia," said Lynch, as they reached the street again.
"That's so. 'There was a sound of revelry by night, and Belgium's capital'—got considerably mixed," replied Grossbeck, whose head was not quite so full as his companion's.
"What shall we do, my boy?" stammered Lynch. "That wine was nothing short of camphene. We shall be seen by the captain, and we shall both be sent to keep company with poor McDougal. We've lost our mess on the Josephine."
"Stiffen up, Lynch. Don't give way to it. What sort of a sailor are you, that can't bear two thimblefuls of wine?"
"That wine was camphene, I tell you. It feels just like a whole bunch of friction matches touched off at once in my stomach—that's so. I'm a poor boy and no mistake, Grossbeck."
Lynch suddenly stopped, and grasped his companion by the arm.
"What's the matter," demanded Grossbeck.
"It's no use for me to drink wine. Theeau de viecarries too many guns for me. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to get out of this scrape."
"So am I; but come along, or we shall be late."
"I'm going to join the temperance society, and never drink any more wine—not another drop ofeau de viefor me."
Lynch evidently felt that he had got into trouble for nothing; that the satisfaction of drinking the firewater was very unsatisfactory in the end. He had sense enough left to see that disgrace and degradation awaited him, and he dreaded the prompt action of Captain Kendall, as exhibited in the case of McDougal. While still suffering from the effects of the tipple, he resolved to drink no more; but pledges made in the heat of intoxication are not the most hopeful ones.
The boosy youngsters worried along the street; but instead of turning to the right, into the Rue de la Monnaie, they went straight ahead, and were soon lost in a maze of narrow streets. They were conscious that they had gone astray, and looked in vain for the square in front of the Théâtre Royal, which they had marked as an objective point. At last they came across a solitary policeman, who paused on his walk to observe their unsteady tramp.
"Hôtel Royal?" said Grossbeck, addressing the officer.
"Oui," replied the man, pointing in the direction from which they had come, and leading the way himself.
In a few moments they reached the square they had missed, and Grossbeck recognized the flaming signsof a large clothing store, on the corner of the street in which the hotel was located.
"Thank you. I am very much obliged to you," said he to the policeman, as he pointed to the street.
"Oui," replied the officer, solemnly, though the grateful acknowledgments of the juvenile tippler were lost upon him, except so far as he could interpret them by the motions of the speaker.
"I feel meaner than Napoleon did after the battle of Waterloo," groaned Lynch.
"Stiffen up, now. Here's the hotel," added Grossbeck.
"Well, what shall we do? I can't walk straight, and my head spins round like a top," pleaded Lynch.
"Dry up. Starch your back-bone. Here comes a lot of the fellows."
"Who are they?" asked Lynch, trying to stiffen his back, and get the bearings of his head.
The party approaching proved to be half a dozen of "our fellows," who stopped, and immediately discovered the condition of the two hopefuls.
"I say, McKeon, can't you help us out?" said Grossbeck.
"Ay, ay; certainly we can," replied "our fellows," in concert, as they gathered closely around the inebriates, and, thus encircling them, marched into the hotel.
"Keep still, Lynch; don't say a word," whispered Grossbeck, as they entered the hall, effectually concealed from the observation of the officers by their companions.
Mr. Fluxion stood at the door, and checked off the names of the party as they entered, on the list he held,so as to be sure that all had come in. It was not an easy thing for Lynch to ascend three flights of stairs; but his companions supported him, and contrived to screen him from the officers, till they reached the room where they were to sleep. The door was closed and fastened, and Grossbeck gratefully acknowledged the kindness of his friends in getting them out of the scrape.
"What did you drink?" asked McKeon.
"Wine," answered the tippler.
"What kind of wine?"
"I don't know—eau de vie."
"Eau de vie!" exclaimed Blount, whose knowledge of French was above the average of that of "our fellows."
"That's what we called for," added Grossbeck.
"And it was as strong as camphene," said Lynch, as he tumbled into bed.
"It was brandy!" laughed Blount.
The boys all laughed at the blunder, and Lynch repeated his pledge not to drink any strong liquors, wine, or beer again. Grossbeck defended his conduct by saying that he had heard a great deal about the light wines of Europe, which people drank like water, and he did not suppose a couple of thimblefuls of it would hurt them.
"Call forvin rougenext time," laughed Blount; "that means red wine, or claret. It isn't much stronger than water."
"No, sir!" ejaculated Lynch, springing up in bed, though with much difficulty; "I shall not call for red wine, or anything of the sort. From this time, henceforth and forevermore, I'm a temperance man. I won't drink anything but water, and only a little of that. I feel cheaper than Napoleon when he landed on the Island of St. Helena."
The party turned in, and in a short time all of them, tired out by the fatigues of the day, were fast asleep. Mr. Fluxion, before half past eleven, had reported all the students in the house. At six o'clock in the morning all hands were turned out, and several squads of them were exploring the city on their own account. But it was not till after breakfast that a systematic excursion was organized. A number of omnibuses and one-horse barouches, orvoitures, had been engaged by Mr. Fluxion, and, seated in these, the ship's company proceeded to the Grande Place, which is a large square, with the Hôtel de Ville on one side, and the old Palace, or Broodhuis, on the other side.
The Hôtel de Ville is one of the most splendid municipal palaces in the Low Countries, where these structures are always magnificent specimens of architecture. The spire, of open work, in Gothic style, is three hundred and sixty-four feet high. The vane, which is a gilded copper figure of St. Michael, is seventeen feet high. The building was erected in the fifteenth century.
By the attention of the governor of Antwerp, several officials were in readiness to escort the visitors through the city; and at their beck the doors of public buildings and churches, and the gates of palaces and gardens, were thrown open. The party entered the Hôtel de Ville, and in one of its large rooms an opportunity was afforded for Mr. Mapps to expatiate a little on the city of Brussels.
"Young gentlemen, what is the French name of this city?" asked the professor, as he took the stand occupied by the chief magistrate of the city.
"Bruxelles," responded many of the boys; for they had seen it often enough upon signs and in newspapers to know it.
"Unlike many of the cities of Belgium which we have before visited, Brussels is a growing place. Its population has doubled in twenty years, and now numbers about three hundred thousand. It is situated on both sides of the little River Senne, one hundred and fifty miles from Paris,—which it imitates and resembles in some degree,—and twenty-seven miles from Antwerp. It is built partly on a hill; and the city consists of two portions, called the upper and the lower town, the latter being the older part, and containing all the objects of historic interest. In the upper town are the Park, the king's palace, and the public offices. The streets are irregular, narrow, and crooked; but the city is surrounded by a broad highway, having different names in different parts, as theBoulevard de Waterloo, theBoulevard de Flandre, and theBoulevard d'Anvers.
"The oldest part of the city is in the vicinity of this square—theGrande Place, in which the Counts Egmont and Horn were beheaded by the Duke of Alva. You saw their statues in the square. In this city, in an old palace burned in 1733, Charles V. abdicated in favor of his son Philip II. Here, also, was drawn up that celebrated document called the Request.It was a petition to Margaret of Parma, in favor of the Protestants of the Low Countries, of which you read in Motley. It was presented to her in the Hôtel de Cuylembourg, where a prison now stands. She was somewhat alarmed at the appearance of the petitioners; and one of her courtiers told her, in a whisper, not to be annoyed by the 'gueux,' or beggars. The leader of the confederates, hearing of this, regarded the epithet bestowed upon those who were defending the liberties of their country as an honorable appellation, and the petitioners adopted it as their war-cry. In the evening, some of them appeared in front of the palace with beggars' wallets on their backs, and porringers in their hands, and drank as a toast, 'Success to theGueux!' This trivial incident proved to be one of the leading events of the revolution which deprived Spain of the Low Countries; for it kindled the enthusiasm of the people, and urged them on in the redemption of their country. In Motley you will find a full history of the 'Beggars.' Alva was so incensed at the turn of this affair, that he levelled to the ground the building in which the confederates met.
"Brussels has long been celebrated for its manufactures of lace and carpets; but while it still retains its prestige in the former, it has been outdone in the latter. The finest and most valuable lace is made here and in some of the neighboring cities, and is literally worth its weight in gold. The most expensive kind costs two hundred francs (or forty dollars) a yard."
Mr. Mapps finished his remarks for the present, and the ships' company returned to the carriages, and weredriven to the Place des Martyrs, where there is a large monument erected to the memory of three hundred Belgians, who fell in the Revolution of 1830, which made Belgium an independent kingdom. From this point they passed into the broad Boulevards to the Botanical Gardens, which, however, they did not enter, but continued up the hill to the Park, a large enclosure, beautifully laid out, and ornamented with statues. In one corner of it is the Théâtre du Parc, while in the square which surrounds it are located the king's palace, the palace of the Prince of Orange, the Chamber of Representatives, and other public buildings. The students visited the king's palace;—but his majesty usually resides at Laeken, and the establishment represents royalty on a small scale—and the Chamber of Representatives, in which the two branches of the Belgian legislature convene. In the latter, a woman showed them the Chambers, pointing out some fine pictures, including portraits of the king and queen, and the Battle of Waterloo, explaining everything in French.
"Where shall I find the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Stoute?" asked Professor Hamblin, nervous and excited at the near prospect of standing face to face before the great man of Belgium, and of being complimented upon his great educational works.
"I don't know; but his office must be somewhere in this vicinity," replied the fat professor, laughing at the excitement of his associate.
One of the officials in charge of the party volunteered to conduct them to the apartment of the distinguished revolutionist.
"You must come with me, Mr. Stoute," said the professor of Greek. "If it turns out that Mr. Rogier don't speak English, I should be in an unfortunate dilemma."
"I will go with you with pleasure," laughed Mr. Stoute, who was rather desirous of witnessing the interview.
They were conducted to the apartments of the distinguished minister, and formally and ceremoniously ushered into his presence. He bowed, and regarded his visitors with cool indifference.
"Whom have I the honor to address?" asked the minister, in good English, when Mr. Hamblin had made his best bow.
"I am Professor Hamblin, from the United States, at your service," replied the learned gentleman, who seemed to believe that this announcement would bring the Belgian statesman to his feet, if not to his arms—the professor's.
"Ah, indeed!" replied the minister, blankly.
"I had the pleasure of receiving a note from you at Antwerp," added the American celebrity, annoyed at the coolness of the revolutionist.
"A note from me!" exclaimed the Belgian celebrity, curtly. "I never saw you or heard of you before in my life."
Mr. Hamblin produced the formidable envelope, and drew therefrom the epistle of sweet savor, which had been such a comfort to him in his troubles. He presented it to the minister, satisfied that this would recall the matter to his recollection.
"This note is not from me. I did not write it,"said the Belgian, when he had glanced hastily at the page.
"Really, I beg your excellency's pardon; but it is signed with your name."
"It is a forgery—what you Americans call a practical joke, probably. I haven't been in Antwerp for months."
There was an apparent convulsion in the fat frame of Mr. Stoute, who was evidently struggling to suppress his mirth, or keep it within decent limits.
"I am very sorry, sir," stammered Mr. Hamblin.
"The letter is an imposition, sir. I never heard of you before in my life," added the great Belgian, tossing the note back to the professor, with an impatience which indicated that he never wished to see him again.
That vision had exploded—no invitation to dinner, none to visit the king, none to accept the position of Librarian of the Greek portion of the Royal Library, whose only duty was to consist in drawing his salary. Mr. Hamblin bowed, and so far conformed to his original programme as to back out of the office. Doubtless he came to the conclusion, in his disgust, that Belgium was a "one-horse" kingdom, and that royalty was a humbug.
The vision exploded; so did the mirth of Mr. Stoute, as soon as the door of the department of foreign affairs had closed behind him. He laughed till every ounce of his adipose frame quivered.
"What are you laughing at, Mr. Stoute?" demanded the disappointed suitor for Belgian honors.
"You will excuse me, sir; but really I can't help it," choked the fat professor.
"I really don't see anything to laugh at," added Mr. Hamblin, indignantly.
"I was intensely amused at the shuffling indifference of Monsieur Rogier. He evidently regards himself as a very great man, not to be disturbed by insignificant Greek scholars."
"What do you mean byinsignificant, Mr. Stoute?" asked the lean professor, solemnly.
"Why, the minister had never even heard of you, of your Greek Grammar, Greek Reader, and Anabasis. Such is fame!" chuckled the good-natured instructor.
"'What we Americans call a practical joke,' were the words of the minister. Do you regard this as a joke, Mr. Stoute?" said the learned gentleman, very seriously.
"I suppose it is a joke to all, except the victim."
"Do you know anything about the author of this senseless piece of imposition?"
"Certainly not. I had not the least idea that the ponderous document was not genuine till his excellency pronounced it a forgery."
"Who could have done this?"
"Some of the students, probably."
"Probably," replied the professor, taking the note from his pocket again, and carefully scanning the handwriting. "I have no doubt it was done by one of the students. It is another of their infamous tricks—the fourth that has been put upon me. Do the other instructors suffer in this manner?"
"I have not heard of any other victims, and I am inclined to think you are the only one."
"I do not see why I should be selected as therecipient of these silly and ridiculous, not to say wicked, tricks. A rope falls onmyhead,Iam pitched into the river, drenched with dirty water, and now sent on a fool's errand to the king's chief minister! I don't understand why I am the only sufferer."
Professor Stoute did understand why Mr. Hamblin had been so frequently sacrificed, but he had a habit of minding his own business, and did not venture to give an opinion on the subject, which probably would not have been well received. What the fat professor knew all the boys in the Josephine, and most of those in the Young America, knew—that the cold, stiff, haughty, tyrannical, overbearing manner of the lean professor had made him exceedingly unpopular; that the students disliked him even to the degree of hating him; that if he had ever had any influence with them, he had lost it by his ridiculous sternness and stupid precision. Mr. Hamblin did not know this, but everybody else did.
"Don't you know this writing, Mr. Stoute?" demanded the irate man of Greek roots, after an attentive study of the note.
"I do not."
"I do!" added Mr. Hamblin, decidedly.
"You are fortunate then. If we can unearth the culprit, he will be severely punished."
"I am not so clear on that point. This note was written by Captain Kendall."
"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Stoute, seizing the note, and examining more attentively than he had done before the writing it contained.
It did look like Paul's writing. It was his style,and there were not more than two students in the Josephine who could have composed the French in the document. Those two were Paul and Duncan. But Mr. Stoute was unwilling to believe that the captain would resort to such a proceeding.
"I shall charge him with it," added Mr. Hamblin.
"I advise you not to do it without more evidence than you have yet obtained," said Mr. Stoute, seriously.
"After we return to the vessel I shall probably be able to obtain some proof," continued Mr. Hamblin, as he put the letter in his pocket.
When they went to look for the rest of the party, they found them forming a line in the square. Present with Mr. Lowington was his excellency, the governor of Antwerp, who had just invited the company to visit the palace gardens. In even lines, with the officers in their proper places, the procession marched across the park and through the gates, at which a file of Belgian soldiers presented arms to them. In the garden they formed a line on one of the walks. Near the palace, walking to and fro, was an old gentleman, but still erect and manly, with a glittering decoration on his breast. Several other persons, most of them dressed in uniform, or decked with orders, were standing near the old gentleman.
Presently the governor of Antwerp approached the ship's company, attended by an officer to whom Mr. Lowington was introduced. The three then walked towards the old gentleman, to whom the principal was presented. The venerable personage bowed gracefully, but did not offer to shake hands, or indulge in any republican familiarities.
"That's the King of Belgium," said Dr. Winstock to Paul, as the principal and the venerable person approached the line, followed by the officials.
"The king!" exclaimed Paul, taken all aback by the announcement; and this was the first time he had ever looked upon a live monarch. "He seems just like any other man; what shall we do?"
"Give him three Yankee cheers," replied the doctor.
Captain Kendall spoke to the flag-officer and to Captain Haven.
"Three cheers for his majesty the King of Belgium!" called Flag-officer Gordon.
They were given with a will, but the "tiger" was omitted in deference to royalty. King Leopold gracefully and graciously acknowledged the salute by touching his hat, and then walked up and down the line, inspecting the ship's company. Mr. Lowington, hat in hand, walked just behind him. His majesty then took position in front of the line, and the students came to the conclusion that he was going to make a speech; but he did not: he spoke to Mr. Lowington again, who went to the line and called out the flag-officer and the two captains.
"You are to be presented to the king; don't speak unless you are asked a question, and don't turn your back to him," said Mr. Lowington in a low tone.
Paul was startled at the idea of being presented to King Leopold, but he followed his companions, and in due time was with them handed over to the gentleman who had presented the principal, and who proved to be the grand chamberlain.
"Captain Kendall, commander of the Josephine," said the gentleman, when Paul's turn came.
Paul bowed, blushing up to the eyes, when he became conscious that the royal gaze was fixed upon him; but he had self-possession enough not to overdo the matter, and his salute was as dignified and graceful as that of majesty itself. The king smiled when he saw the fine form and handsome face of the junior captain.
"Do you command a ship?" asked his majesty, surveying the young officer from head to foot, with a pleasant smile on his face.
"I command the Josephine, your majesty; she is not a ship, but a topsail schooner of one hundred and sixty tons," replied Paul, satisfied that kings speak just like other men.
"You are very young to command a vessel of that size," added the king.
Paul bowed, but made no reply, as no question was asked.
"Can you manage her in a gale?" asked his majesty.
"I think I can, your majesty; at least I have done so within a week on the coast of your majesty's dominions."
The king actually laughed at this confident reply. As he bowed slightly, Paul, for the first time in his life, backed out, and continued to back till he reached his station at the head of the Josephines. The king then bowed to the whole line, and retired. As he did so, Flag-officer Gordon called for three morecheers. The king turned and bowed again. This time the snapper, in the form of the tiger, was applied, which so astonished the royal personage that he turned once more, laughed, and bowed.
Professor Hamblin looked very nervous and discontented. "That boy" had been presented to the king, and he, who had compiled a Greek Grammar, a Greek Reader, and edited the Anabasis, had been "left out in the cold." If it was possible for a great mind like that of thesavantto harbor such a vicious feeling as envy, he certainly envied Paul Kendall his brief interview with the King of the Belgians.
The party retired from the garden, and returned to the carriages. It appeared in explanation of this unexpected honor, that the governor of Antwerp had waited on the king that day, and informed him casually of the presence of the students of the academy squadron in the capital, and he had expressed a desire to see them in a very informal manner. Mr. Lowington was no "flunky," and never sought admission to the presence of royalty, for himself or his pupils.
As the procession of omnibuses and fiacres moved down to the lower town, they were thrown into great excitement by seeing many of the streets and houses dressed with flags and other devices. On inquiring at the hotel, Mr. Molenschot informed Paul that it was a saint's day, and that a religious procession would march through some of the principal streets.
"Go down into the Boulevard d'Anvers, and you will have a good chance to see the show," added the landlord.
"What is it?"
"O, it is really very fine and very grand; but go at once, or you will be too late."
The students were permitted to go to the street indicated, and they had hardly secured a good place before they heard martial music, playing a solemn dirge.
A Religious Procession in Brussels.—Page 230.A Religious Procession in Brussels.—Page 230.
A crowd of people preceded the procession, as it came out of the Rue de Laeken into the Boulevard d'Anvers. At the head of it marched the military band, and thecortégewas flanked by soldiers of the Belgian army, indicating that the government felt an interest in the display. The students were on the tiptoe of excitement at the novel spectacle; and Paul asked his friend, the doctor, a great many questions which he could not answer. The composition and order of the procession were very nearly as follows:—
A man bearing a cross on a pole.Banner.Little girls dressed in white, with flowers in their hands.Little boys.Banner.Image of the Virgin borne by four men.A lamb, very white and clean, led by a string, anddecorated with red ribbons, with boys on eachside, carrying various emblems.Young ladies in white.Another image of the Virgin.About twenty priests, in white muslin robes, and insatin robes trimmed with gold.Two boys with censers.Silken canopy, borne by four men, under which walkedtwo ecclesiastics, in full costume onebearing the Host.
The canopy was surrounded by men carrying lanterns with silver framework, and of peculiar construction. The censers, as they were swung backward and forward by the bearers, emitted a dense smoke, which rose far above the procession, and marked its progress.
As thecortégeapproached the spot where the boys stood, the band ceased playing, and the priests began to chant the mass to the accompaniment of a single base horn. The procession moved very slowly, and the rich voices of the priests, mingling with the heavy notes of the horn, produced an effect solemn and impressive even on the minds of those whose religious education did not prepare them to appreciate such a display.
As the host approached, hundreds of the crowd in the street knelt reverently upon the pavement, and bowed their heads before the sacred emblems. Women and children strewed the path of the procession with flowers, green branches, or, in the absence of these, with handfuls of colored paper cut into minute pieces. Indeed, the street, in places, was literally covered with these votive offerings of the people, who had no other means of testifying their reverence for the ceremonial.
The line filed into the Rue Longue Neuve, which was extensively decorated with flags, streamers, and other national and religious emblems. In many windows burned a line of candles, in some cases before a crucifix. In this street the procession halted, and several of the priests moved up an arch forming the entrance to one of the better residences. In this recess an altar had been erected, and was covered with all the emblems of the Catholic faith. The priests knelt before it, and chanted a portion of the service, and then returned to the procession, which continued its march up the street; the flowers and bits of colored paper filling the air before it, and the people still reverently bowing down to the host. The solemn and impressive chanting of the priests kindled the pious enthusiasm of the multitude, and as the line passed thecafésandestaminets, or smoking houses, the pipe, the drink, and the gay jest were abandoned, to pay homage to the faith of the nation.
The faces of the little children and the white-robed maidens in the procession presented an aspect of religious enthusiasm, solemn but not sad, which young people seldom wear. Everybody seemed to be carried away by the excitement of the scene; all hats were removed, and the utmost respect was paid to the representatives and to the emblems of the church in the line.
As Paul and his friend followed the spectacle up the street, they saw a Béguine nun kneeling at the altar in the arch, wringing her hands in an ecstasy of devotion, while several women were regarding her with an admiring reverence, which seemed to indicate that theyenvied her the enjoyment of the heavenly raptures which thrilled her.
"It is very solemn—isn't it?" said Paul, when they had passed out of hearing of the procession.
"It is really moving, even while you have no sympathy with the church which makes these displays."
"I think I was never more moved in my life than I was by the chanting of those priests. But what is the occasion of all this?"
"I don't know; except that this is some saint's day—St. James, I believe; but there is something of this kind in Brussels nearly every Sunday; and I have seen several minor displays in the streets in the evening."
"I am surprised to see how much respect the people pay to their religion. If they have these displays often, I should think they would become stale."
"It appears they do not. I have a great deal more consideration and respect for these exhibitions in Belgium than in some other parts of Europe, for the reason that all religions enjoy the utmost toleration here. The people are almost exclusively Catholic, and yet they permit Protestants and Jews entire freedom in the exercise of their religion, and pay them their fair share of the government money."
At two o'clock dinner was ready at the Hôtel Royal; and it need not be added that the boys also were ready. Half an hour later the whole party had been loaded into stage-coaches, which, in an hour and a half, set them down on the battle-field of Waterloo. For two hours they wandered about the field, or rather up and down the two principal roads which pass throughit. On the highest ground of the field, where there is a mound two hundred feet high, surmounted by the Belgic Lion, Mr. Mapps gave a brief account of the great battle, pointing out the spots of the greatest interest, including the road by which Blucher arrived. The subject is too vast for these pages; but it will be alluded to in the summary of French history in a subsequent volume.
There are several monuments, and columns, and obelisks on the battle-field, which mark the fall of distinguished men or their burial-places. Beneath the great mound are buried thousands of all the armies represented in this historical conflict, which settled, for a time, the fate of Europe. The field is the harvest-ground of a multitude of beggars, relic-hunters, and guides, who bore visitors almost to death with old buttons, musty rags, flattened bullets, bones, and other articles, which they produce as keepsakes of the battle. The stock of these things probably failed long ago, and the traveller may well be suspicious of the genuineness of anything which may be offered to him by these leeches.
At six the stages conveyed the tourists to the Groenendael Station, on the railway to Namur, where they arrived after a ride of an hour, express time. This place is the "Belgian Sheffield," being largely engaged in the manufacturing of arms, cutlery, and hardware. Its vicinity contains rich mines of iron, coal, and marble. Many battles and sieges have occurred in this place; and Don John of Austria, sent by Philip II. to subdue the country, was buried here. The city contains a population of twenty-six thousand, and is beautifully located at the junction of the Meuse and Sambre Rivers. The train stopped here but an hour; and the students roamed through some of the principal streets, which, however, were too much like those of places they had visited before to excite any especial interest.
Two hours later, they arrived at Liége, which was to be the eastern limit of the excursion. As before, Mr. Fluxion had preceded them, and engaged accommodations at the hotels. The students were very tired, and not disposed to explore the city of the bishops that night. Before breakfast on the following morning, Mr. Mapps gave them the history and other interesting particulars relating to the city, when they had assembled in the old citadel of St. Walburg, which overlooks the town.
"Liége, whose Flemish name isLuik, contains one hundred and nine thousand inhabitants, who are principally concerned in the various manufactures of iron, and especially in the making of cannon and arms," said the professor. "I observed to you before, that this part of the country bears some resemblance to New England. As you have an opportunity to observe for yourselves, the scenery is very fine, but rather of the pleasant and quiet description.
"The province of Liége, of which this city is the capital, was formerly governed by a line of bishops; and those of you who have read Scott's Quentin Durward will remember William de la Marck, the Wild Boar of Ardennes, whose adventures are located in this vicinity. In the tenth century, the bishops of Liége were made sovereigns by the German emperor, and received the name of Prince-Bishops. But the burghers ofLiége, like those of Ghent, had a will and a way of their own, and frequently rebelled against the bishops, in support of their rights; and Charles the Bold took the rulers under his protection. Still they persisted in revolting, and Charles destroyed the city, as a punishment, in 1468. Fifteen years later, William de la Marck murdered the prince-bishop, in order to obtain the mitre-crown for his son. This was the beginning of the insurrection, in which, as I have related to you before, Charles the Bold compelled the king of France to march against the rebels.
"The place was subsequently captured by the French; the bishops were expelled at the commencement of the French Revolution, but were restored by the Austrians two years later. In 1794 it was annexed to France; but after the battle of Waterloo it was incorporated into the new kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1830 the old spirit of the burghers of Liége revived, and they were among the foremost promoters of the Belgian Revolution."
The students descended from the heights, whose fortresses command the city, took an outside view of the Hôtel de Ville, several churches, and other public buildings, and breakfasted at nine. Though they had by no means exhausted the city, the time would not permit a further examination. The train was ready for them; and their next stop was at Louvain, which, like Ghent and Bruges, had dwindled down from a population of two hundred thousand to thirty-three thousand. It contains a magnificent town hall, decorated in the most elaborate style.
From Louvain the party hurried on to Mechlin, orMalines, a picturesque old city, still famous for its fine lace. It is about the size of Louvain, and, like that, presents a deserted appearance, being only the shadow of its former greatness. Its principal object of interest to the tourist is the Cathedral of St. Romuald, a structure of the fifteenth century, and, like the great churches at Cologne and Antwerp, still unfinished. It was built with money obtained by the sale of the pope's indulgences, which, happily, "gave out" at last. Its spire, which was to have been six hundred and forty feet high, remains incomplete, at little more than half this height, which, however, is only eighteen feet less than the cross on St. Paul's, in London. The church is an immense structure, said to cover nearly two acres of ground. It is the cathedral of the Belgian archbishop, or primate.
"There, Paul, we have finished Belgium," said Dr. Winstock, as the train started for Antwerp.
"I am glad of it; for I am tired of sight-seeing. It seems to me now that I have no desire to see another Cathedral, Hôtel de Ville, or Grande Place," replied Paul, languidly, as he settled himself back in his seat.
"A new country will wake you up," laughed the doctor. "I suppose we shall be in Rotterdam to-morrow."
"I hope so, though I don't know but I should like blue water better than being shut up in these rivers and canals."
"You will get blue water enough before the season is ended."
In half an hour from Malines, the train reached Antwerp. Mr. Fluxion had arrived before; and therewere two tugs at the Quai Vandyck, which had been employed to tow the vessels down the river. They conveyed the students on board, and the orders for sailing were given immediately.
Mr. Hamblin, who had not yet recovered from his disappointment, hastened to the cabin. He commenced a diligent search for papers written by the captain, in order to compare their penmanship with that of the forged note. As Mr. Stoute had been compelled to acknowledge, there was a general resemblance between the handwriting of Paul and that of the unknown scribbler of the note. Though a minute comparison failed to establish any closer connection between them, the professor wanted to make out his point; and it was not difficult for him to find a particular similarity.
Paul was busy on deck, getting the Josephine under weigh, and Mr. Hamblin had the cabin to himself for his investigation. The stamp on the paper of the fictitious note had already excited his attention, and he took the liberty to enter Paul's state-room, in search of some like it. He opened the upper drawer of the bureau, which formed a writing-table when the front was dropped. The first object that attracted his attention was a package of paper of the size, and apparently of the quality, he sought. He picked up a quire of it, and a smile of vindictive satisfaction played upon his wrinkled face, as he discovered upon it the identical stamp of the forged note.
His case was made out, and great was his joy. Paul would certainly be disgraced and removed for such an outrage as a practical joke upon one of themost dignified instructors in the squadron. We must do Mr. Hamblin the justice to say, that he did not wish to prove any more than he believed to be true; but it is very easy for a prejudiced person to believe a great deal against one who has offended him. A student who was not fond of Greek could not be a very noble, or even a very upright one; and he was confident that, when Paul's true character became known, when he was no longer stimulated to great deeds by his high office, he would prove to be a very different person from what he now appeared to be.
Mr. Hamblin confiscated a half quire of the paper, and secured several French exercises written by Captain Kendall, to be used as evidence against him. He then searched the vessel for similar paper in the possession of other students, but found none. He went on deck, to ascertain what was to be done; for Mr. Lowington had assured him he would not be any longer obliged to sail in the same vessel with the obnoxious student. A boat from the ship was alongside, and Mr. Fluxion had just stepped on board. The boatswain was hoisting his baggage out of the boat, which indicated that he was to remain.
Paul was reading an order just handed to him by Mr. Fluxion, which appeared to settle the difficulty between him and the learned professor. The order was in these words:—