Meanwhile Mr. Van Rasseulger was whizzing rapidly towards them in the afternoon train, and another powerful friend was coming from an opposite direction. ----- [1] O Heaven! he has it! CHAPTER XII. "A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED." One, two, three, four, five, six, sounded a deep-throated bell upon the evening air, and then a chime of bells played Luther's Chant. "O, dear!" groaned Johnny; "that's the wonderful clock; I wish we had let it alone." "Hark!" exclaimed Eric. His quick ear had caught the sound of footsteps upon the stairway leading to their room, and he fancied them to be his uncle's. He was right. The door opened presently, and Mr. Van Rasseulger was with them. "Well, what is all this nonsense?" he exclaimed, grasping Eric's hand, and drawing Johnny into his lap. "A good-natured guardian lets you off for a good time, and you get into trouble the first thing." Eric related all that had occurred, a little embarrassed at Johnny's admiring remark,-- "You ought to have seen him spin that little dancing Frenchman against the wall, papa. I wish I'd been big enough! I'd have thrashed him!" "Hush, Johnny," said his father. "Go on, Eric. You say he found the money in the fauteuil. How in the world did the things get into this room?" "That is just what puzzles everybody," answered Eric, earnestly. "Uncle John, how _could_ it have got there? and the ring, too?" "Where did you find the ring, Johnny?" "Right here, sir, upon the floor, by Froll's cage;" answered Johnny, getting up and standing in the place. "It is very mysterious, certainly," Mr. Van Rasseulger said, "and the strange circumstances give the man strong grounds for suspicion against you. Of course, it is absurd to think that two little boys would have committed such a robbery; yet the ring was found in your hands, and the money concealed in your room, and therefore you are accused." "But, papa, can't you take us away? We didn't do it." "You silly boy, I _know_ you did not do it. But would you not rather stay and prove satisfactorily to all that you did not? I should not wish to take you from here while the faintest shadow of a suspicion lingered that you were guilty." "Nor would I wish to go," said Eric, proudly. "Well, then we'll stay," said Johnny, dolefully; "but I think it is dreadfully unjust to spoil all our good time. We Americans wouldn't do so to a Frenchman." "I'm afraid we would, under such suspicious evidences," said his uncle. "But you needn't worry about it, boys; every cloud has a silver lining." "It isn't pleasant to know we can't go out of our room," said Eric. "No: I must arrange about that," Mr. Van Rasseulger answered. "I will write a note to the American consul, and get you released." Eric started suddenly to his feet. "I am sure I heard Mr. Lacelle's voice," he said. "You couldn't have," said Johnny. "You left him at Amsterdam."