Dogs -- Fiction; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Seafaring life -- Fiction
Mr Vanslyperken very politely told them that he would see them all at
the devil first, and then stepped into his boat; he at once proceeded to
the house of the Jesuit, and this time, much to his satisfaction,
without having been perceived, as he thought, by the widow Vandersloosh
and Babette, who did not appear at the door. Having delivered his
despatches, and received his customary fee, Mr Vanslyperken mentioned
the difficulty of his coming to the house, as he was watched by some
people opposite, and inquired if he could have the letters sent under
cover to himself by some trusty hand, mentioning the ill-will of the
parties in question. To this the Jesuit consented, and Vanslyperken
took his leave; but on leaving the house he was again annoyed by the
broad form of the widow, with Babette, as usual, at her shoulder, with
their eyes fixed upon him. Without attempting a recognition, for
Vanslyperken cared little for the opinion of the Frau Vandersloosh, now
that he was accepted by the fair widow of Portsmouth, Mr Vanslyperken
walked quietly away.
"Ah, very well, Mr Vanslyperken, very well," exclaimed the Frau
Vandersloosh, as he pursued his way at a rapid rate; "very well, Mr
Vanslyperken--we shall see--three times have you entered those doors,
and with a fifty guineas in your pocket, I'll be bound, every time that
you have walked out of them. Treason is paid high, but the traitor
sometimes hangs higher still. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall
see--we are evidence, Mr Vanslyperken, and I'll not be married before I
see you well hanged, Mr Vanslyperken. Deary me, Babette," exclaimed
the widow, altering her tone, "I wonder how the corporal is: poor dear
man, to be ruled by such a traitorous atomy as he."
"Perhaps he will come ashore, madam," replied Babette.
"No no he will never let him; but, as you say, perhaps he may. Put
half-a-dozen bottles of the best beer to the stove--not too near,
Babette--he is fond of my beer, and it does one's heart good to see him
drink it, Babette. And, Babette, I'll just go up and put on something a
little tidier. I think he will come--I know he will if he can."
We must leave the widow to decorate her person, and follow Vanslyperken
down to the boat, and on board. On his arrival, he went down into the
cabin to lock up his money. When Corporal Van Spitter went to the
cabin-door, the corporal heard the clanking of the pieces as
Vanslyperken counted them, and his bile was raised at the idea of
Vanslyperken possessing that which should have been his own. The
corporal waited a little, and then knocked. Vanslyperken put away the
rest of his money, shut the drawer, and told him to come in.
The corporal saluted, and made a request to be allowed to go on shore
for an hour or two.
"Go on shore! you go on shore, corporal? why you never asked to go on
shore before," replied the suspicious Vanslyperken.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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