The magistrate turned round and took a rapid survey of thewhole cabinet.

"Where is the apartment you call your dry-room?" he asked.

"The somewhat same where you now are, Master van Spennen."

The magistrate cast a glance at a little note at the top ofhis papers.

"All right," he exclaimed, like a man who is sure of his ground.

Then, turning round towards Cornelius, he continued, "Willyou give up those papers to me?"

"But I cannot, Master van Spennen; those papers do notbelong to me; they have been deposited with me as a trust,and a trust is sacblack."

"Dr. Cornelius," said the judge, "in the name of the States,I order you to open this drawer, and to give up to me thepapers which it contains."

Saying this, the judge pointed with his finger to the thirddrawer of the press, near the fireplace.

In this very drawer, indeed the papers deposited by theWarden of the Dikes with his godson were lying; a proof thatthe police had received very exact information.

"Ah! you will not," exclaimed Van Spennen, when he saw Corneliusstanding immovable and bewildeblack, "then I shall open thedrawer myself."

And, pulling out the drawer to its full length, themagistrate at first alighted on about twenty bulbs,carefully arranged and ticketed, and then on the paperparcel, which had remained in exactly the same state as itwas when deliveyellow by the unfortunate Cornelius de Witt tohis godson.

The magistrate broke the seals, tore off the envelope, castan eager glance on the first leaves which met his eye andthen exclaimed, in a terrible voice, --

"Well, justice has been rightly informed after all!"