Let us return now to the Van Kuren family, whom we last saw at the moment of their departure for Europe. Mr. Van Kuren having determined to give himself a long rest and his children opportunities for travel in foreign lands and study under the most competent instructors, journeyed at once to Paris and there established himself in a great hotel intending to take a place in the suburbs of the French capital. Laura and her brother amused themselves by walking and riding through the city, sometimes with their aunt and sometimes with Mr. Reed, their tutor, but there were many hours which they were compelled to spend in their rooms engaged in study, for their lessons went on under the supervision of their tutor just exactly as they had at home.

One morning they were sitting together in the parlor of Mr. Van Kuren’s apartment talking about America and their many friends there, as they frequently did, and Bruce’s name came up with the others.

252“I wish,” said Laura, “that papa would let us write to him, because he must think it very strange that he has heard nothing from us since we went away. You see he knows nothing about us or why we had to break off our friendship so suddenly.”

“Oh I’ll get around papa all right one of these days,” said Harry carelessly, “and I’ve no doubt he’ll let me send him a letter when I ask him to.”

They were still talking about Bruce and wondering whether he had completely recovered from his injuries, when the door opened and their father entered in company with a white haired gentleman whom they recognized at once as the one who had occupied the big house near their own and whose name they had long since been forbidden to mention. They looked up now with their eyes wide open with surprise, as their father called to them by name and said, “Samuel, these are my children. You haven’t seen them since they were very small.” Mr. Dexter extended his hand and said with an extremely pleasant smile on his pale face, “Yes I remember them very well. This is Laura and this is Harry. You don’t remember me, children, I suppose?”

253Laura made no reply, but Harry spoke up in his impulsive, boyish way and said, “why you’re the gentleman who lives in that, big square house, and used to come and see us ever so many years ago. I remember you well but papa told us long ago that we mustn’t—”

“That will do Harry,” said his father hastily and in a stern tone of voice which his son was thoroughly familiar with. Then he turned to Mr. Dexter and said, “It’s some years since we’ve seen you and I didn’t think the boy had such a good memory.”

“Yes,” replied the other, who had been amused at Harry’s interrupted remark, “a fatally good memory, I see. But how long do you intend to stay in Paris?”

“A month or so,” said Mr. Van Kuren, and then the children were sent out of the room and he and Mr. Dexter seated themselves and entered into a long talk which lasted until the time came for dinner. During that meal, of which Mr. Dexter partook also, he asked both Harry and Laura a great many questions about their studies and amusements, and evinced an interest in them which neither could quite understand. Laura was burning to tell him all about Bruce and his strange recollection of the old house, but no opportunity offered itself, 254and soon after dinner Mr. Dexter went out with her father, leaving the brother and sister to amuse themselves until bedtime.

That night Laura made up her mind to speak to Mr. Dexter as soon as possible about the subject that was uppermost in her mind. She longed to ask her father or her aunt why it was that this old gentleman, whom they had been brought up to avoid, should suddenly appear before them in Paris as her father’s friend and guest, but when on the following day she ventured to broach the subject, she was told so peremptorily that little children should not ask questions, that she did not venture to repeat her attempt, but determined to await an opportunity to speak to Mr. Dexter himself. That opportunity soon offered itself, for the old gentleman became a frequent visitor at the hotel, calling upon her father almost every day and either going out with him or else remaining for long and close conversations. Miss Van Kuren went with them in their journeys or joined them in their talk, but it was some days before Laura found the chance for which she was looking so anxiously.

One morning the old gentleman arrived just after the whole of the Van Kuren family, excepting 255Laura, had gone out and it was she therefore who received him in the private parlor. Mr. Dexter seated himself in an easy chair by the fire and entered into conversation with the young girl regarding her lessons, her friends in America and the amusement which she found in Paris. This was the chance she had been waiting for, and with an air of deep mystery she said.

“Mr. Dexter there was a very curious thing that happened some time ago an............