Dogs -- Fiction; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Seafaring life -- Fiction
"I have sought a proper asylum for your daughter during the impending
troubles, and could not find one which pleased, and in consequence I
have taken the bold step, aware that I might not have received your
sanction if applied for, of taking her on board the cutter with me; she
will there be safe, and as her character might be, to a certain degree,
impeached by being in company with a man of my age, I intend, as soon as
we arrive in port, to unite myself to her, for which act, I trust, you
will grant me your pardon. As for yourself, be under no apprehension; I
have saved you. Treat the accusation with scorn, and if on are admitted
into the presence of his majesty, accuse him of the ingratitude which he
has been guilty of; I trust that we shall soon meet again, that I may
return to you the securities and specie of which I have charge, as well
as your daughter, who is anxious once more to receive your blessing.
"Yours ever, till death,
"EDWARD RAMSAY."
Mynheer Krause read this letter over and over again; it was very
mystifying. Much depends in this world upon the humour people are in at
the time; Mynheer Krause was, at that time, full of Cato-like devotion
and Roman virtue, and he took the contents of the letter in true Catonic
style.
"Excellent young man--to preserve my honour he has taken her away with
him! and, to preserve her reputation he intends to marry her! Now, I
can go to prison without a sigh. He tells me that he has saved me--
saved me!--why, he has saved everything; me, my daughter, and my
property! Well, they shall see how I behave! They shall witness the
calmness of a Stoic; I shall express no emotion or surprise at the
arrest, as they will naturally expect, because I know it is to take
place--no fear--no agitation when in prison, because I know that I am to
be saved. I shall desire them to bear in mind that I am the syndic of
this town, and must receive that respect which is due to my exalted
situation;" and Mynheer Van Krause lifted his pipe and ordered Koops to
bring him a stone jug of beer, and thus doubly armed like Cato, he
awaited the arrival of the officer with all the stoicism of beer and
tobacco.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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