Under Supervision.

;) n English lady who wore busily engaged playing ecarti for seemingly heavy stakes , while his Reverence , with a tumbler of toddy before him , was closely following the game . I could not help noticing that his gaze became intently fixed upon the hands of the lady as she moved them .

; l ) id at tunes there seemed to be a gleam of satisfaction passing over his countenance , but what occurred to me as most remarkable Was . that when he raised his glass to drink , he made use of a certain motion best known to members of flic Craft , evidently more from custom than purpose .

According to my usual habit , I retired to my berth very early , leaving the card players and his Reverence in the saloon . Soon after daybreak tbe following morning I woke up aud proceeded to the deck , as I am always pleased with the sail up the Maas , especially round about Dordrecht . I was not , however , the lii-. st , for there stood his Reverence in anything but the clerical garb

of the previous night , looking over the ship ' s side so intently that he did not observe my approach . Presently a small sailing-vessel came from the shore to within signal distance , and from the stern I could distinguish an individual hard at work making some signs with his hands and arms which our clerical friend on our deck was noting

down and replying to . As we were steaming a good pace , we soon left the small boat astern , and then his Reverence became aware of the fact that he was not the sole occupant of the poop-deck . After a few passing remarks as to the state of the weather , he retired , but I could see plainly that he was not pleased with my having witnessed the signals between the man in the boat and himself .

When breakfast was announced , his Reverence did not appear until all the rest were seated , aud I noticed when he took his seat that he managed to get a full view of the two gentlemen and the ladycard players , and seemed to scan most minutely every movement made by them .

By about 9 a . m . Sunday morning , wc were made fast to the jetty at Rotterdam , and the passengers commenced to disembark . His Reverence was met by two laymen , the face of one of them appearing to be familiar to me . However , I was anxious to get on shore , and drove straight to Adler ' s Hotel , for which hostelry 1 had and have still a great liking , notwithstanding the new and more showy establishments iu the citv .

During the morning I called upon a correspondent , and , after making some appointments for the following day , drove to the railway station in time to catch the mid-day train to tho Hague . On the platform I noticed one of the men who had met the priest on the jetty , and seated in a carriage in the train were the three curd-players .

On my taking my seat in a compartment I was joined by a gentleman whose voice had a somewhat familiar ring , though from the brogue there was no mistaking his nationality . During the short journey he endeavoured to impress me with the idea that pleasure was the object of his visit , and suggested that we should be

companions for the day , and , as he seemed to be better acquainted with the country than I was , . he offered to act as guide . On arriving c . t our destination , my newly-acquired friend recognised the man 1 had seen upon the Rotterdam platform , and introduced him to me as Mr . Richter , from Vienna .

I could not help observing that the eyes of both these gentlemen were constantl y directed towards the three individuals whom I have hitherto designated the card-players , aud immediately they left the railway station my companions and I followed them , even so far as to enter the same hotel for luncheon , and , what seemed to me to be rather remarkable , was that one or other of my companions were constantly watching ( he movements of the irio , more especially theladv .

Under Supervision.

After lunch we took the steam tram to Scheveningeii , and in the same tram were the card-players , which was the case on our return . More than this , I noticed that when wc arrived at the railway station , to return to Rotterdam , the trio were there also , and travelled in the same train .

"When I took my p lace at the dinner-table at Adler s , I found that Mr . Richter was seated opposite to me , and during the meal wc arraged to visit some of the places of amusement , he being well acquainted with the Dutch language as well as all the haunts , made his company acceptable to me .

In the first place , Sunday evenings in Rotterdam can best be described as being like Bank Holiday in London ; the streets are thronged with all sorts and conditions of men , women and children , and , notwithstanding the crowded state of the city , perfect order prevails . The varied dresses and uniforms made the streets look gay

and picturesque . When the evening was sufficiently advanced we sallied forth in search of pleasure , and first visited one of the minor music halls ; this , however , did not seem to be of sufficient merit to p lease my companion , and several other halls were as briefly visited until at last a

variety theatre of much greater pretensions came under our notice , which we patronised . On entering , we found seated in the front row the two gentlemen and lady before-mentioned . The latter was now in full evening costume , sparkling diamonds were displayed upon her dress , with pendant crescent and rings of the same brilliant gems .

On a seat just behind sat our Irish friend , and from his looks one could see that he was intent upon making mental notes of the jewellery with which the lad y was adorned . Significant g lances passed between my companion and the Irishman , and also a third party , who was promenading about the entrance .

I began to feel somewhat puzzled over their signalling and strange movements , and asked my companion plainly what it all meant . The only reply I got was that I should know in good time . At the close of the performance I left and returned to my hotel , but in close attendance was Mr . Richter . "We were joined by the Irishman just before retiring to bed , aud a discussion in an

undertone , which I was not permitted to hear , took place between the two . Next morning I called upon my correspondent at 11 o ' clock , as appointed . I was rather taken aback to find him laughing immoderately , and before I could ask for an explanation he hurried me to his private room , where he told me there was a friend waiting to have a few words with me .

On entering , the first thing that met my gaze was the priest in his spick-and-span new attire , with a very far from clerical grin upon his face . When he commenced to speak I had no difficulty iu identif ying him as the Irishman of the day before . He informed me that I had been under supervision for the last thirty-six hours , but

that enquiries made from the captain and the agents of the steamer , also my friend , who is an influential citizen , everything was satisfactorily cleared up . He also informed me that the reason I was looked after was that I happened to be on the steamer when his

Reverence arrived on board at Grimsb y ; where were also the perpetrators of a jewellery robbery which had taken place in Vienna a few days before . There were four people suspected as having been concerned in it , three of them were then in custody , having been arrested that morning , but the fourth was missing .

After ample apologies for thrusting his own and his colleague ' s presence upon me , he invited me to partake of luncheon with him , and he . would give me more particulars . Having been a somewhat prominent figure iu the capture of these delinquents , I was anxious to learn more about the matter , so we

Ad04102

^ ^ gl ^ ^ g ^ W THE SOUTH AMERICAN ^ " " INDIANS OF THE GRAN CHAOO . '" ^ ^ ^