Geneva, 1861. Leopold van Zonshoven.
"That it is becoming in Leo to have sketched the doings of Major Frank in all their shades and peculiarities, even for a friend, I shall never allow; but I feel that in his delicate position it was necessary for him to ease his mind to some one, and that it was better he should do so to a friend across the seas. Therefore I have pardoned him. Now I will request you not to have his letters printed in any of your Indian papers! That would be too bad! Not that Francis van Zonshoven would attempt to defend such a person--oh no! It appears to me no such person ever existed. But there are family secrets in the letters, which I must seriously recommend to your discretion.
"Don"t wait until your term of service in India expires, but get your leave of absence and visit us at the Werve. All the windows are now glazed, and there is room enough for Leo"s friend, though he came with a whole family.
"Francis van Zonshoven."
NOTES
[1] Strictly orthodox Dutch people think that a sermon in the light, airy French language cannot be so serious and solemn as in their own tongue.
[2] The strictly orthodox party in Holland will only make use of the version of the Bible approved by the States-General in the seventeenth century; the bigots insist upon its being printed in the German characters in use at the time when the first copies were issued.
[3] The Victoria Cross of the Dutch.
[4] In Holland one is obliged to fetch a registered letter; they are never delivered by the postman.
[5] In Holland every village has its burgomaster, who acts as chairman of the local board.
[6] Trineke is a diminutive of Catherine.