Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/228

surprise was so great, that he appeared to doubt the evidence of his senses, knowing, that five months before, I had broken out of a prison, only eighteen leagues distant. We retired to his lodgings, where the leading occurrences, since my escape, and the cause of my visiting Brussels, were briefly related. He seemed to suspect a hoax, and accused me of having some deep scheme in view, which I would not disclose, cautioning me against remaining any time in the town, as the police was very strict, and assisting me with the loan of a few pounds. On returning to Neirinks's aunt's, and entering the spacious drawing-*room, I found the young ladies sitting "tête-à-tête," by a comfortable fire. As they arose when I drew near, I perceived a transparent drop trickling down the pale cheek of Julie, and something like confusion stealing over the evidently excited countenances of both; "quel fatal prèsent du ciel, qu'un cœur sensible." Fearing that my untimely intrusion was the cause of this perturbation, I gently bowed, and was in the act of retiring, when Mary