"We are all attentive, madam." Mistress Vandersloosh then began, out of breath, and continued out of breath till she had told the whole of her story, which, as the reader must be aware, only corroborated all Vanslyperken had already stated, with the exception that he had denounced the widow. Lord Albemarle allowed her to proceed without interruption; he had a great insight into character, and the story of the widow confirmed him in his opinion of Vanslyperken. "But, my good woman," said Lord Albemarle, "are you aware that Mr Vanslyperken has already been here?" "Yes, your honour, I met him going back, and he turned his nose up at me, and then I said, `Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see; wait a little, Mr Vanslyperken.'" "And," continued Lord Albemarle, "that he has denounced you as being a party to all these treasonable practices?" "Me--denounced me--he--O Lord, O Lord, only let me meet him face to face--let him say it then, if he dares, the snivelling--cowardly-- murdering wretch." Thereupon Mrs Vandersloosh commenced the history of Vanslyperken's wooing, of his cur Snarleyyow, of her fancy for the corporal, of his finding her with the corporal the day before, of her beating him off with the brooms, and of her threats to expose his treason. "And so, now, when he finds that he was to be exposed, he comes up first himself; that's now the truth of it, or my name's not Vandersloosh, your honour;" and the widow walked up and down with the march of an elephant, fanning herself violently, her bosom heaving with agitation, and her face as red as a boiled lobster. "Mistress Vandersloosh," said Lord Albemarle, "let the affair rest as it is for the present, but I shall not forget what you have told me. I think now that you had better go home." At this dismissal the widow turned round. "Thank your worship kindly," said she, "I'm ready to come whenever I'm wanted. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken," resumed the widow, as she walked to the door, quite forgetting the respect due to the two noblemen, "we shall see; yes, yes, we shall see." "Well, my lord, what think you of this?" said Lord Albemarle to the duke, as the widow closed the door. "Upon my soul I think she is honest; she is too fat for a traitor." "I am of your opinion. The episode of the corporal was delightful, and has thrown much light upon the lieutenant's conduct, who is a traitor in my opinion, if ever there was one; but he must be allowed to fulfil his task, and then we will soon find out the traitor; but if I mistake not, that man was born to be hung." We must now return to Mr Vanslyperken, who received the note from Ramsay, just as he was going down to the boat. As he did not know what steps were to be taken by Government, he determined to go up to Ramsay, and inform him of his order for immediately sailing.