Chapter XLVI
In which there is much bustle and confusion, plot and counter-plot.
About two hours after the council had broken up, the followingcommunication was delivered into the hands of Ramsay by an old woman,who immediately took her departure.
"The lieutenant of the cutter has taken copies of all yourcorrespondence and betrayed you. You must fly immediately, as atmidnight you and all of you will be seized. In justice to MynheerKrause, leave documents to clear him.
"The cutter will sail this evening--with orders to secure your friendsat Portsmouth and the cave."
"Now, by the holy cross of our Saviour! I will have revenge upon thatdastard; there is no time to lose; five minutes for reflection, and thento act," thought Ramsay, as he twisted up this timely notice, which, itmust be evident to the reader, must have been sent by one who had beensummoned to the council. Ramsay's plans were soon formed, he despatcheda trusty messenger to the Jesuit's, desiring him to communicateimmediately with the others, and upon what plan to proceed. He thenwrote a note to Vanslyperken, requesting his immediate presence, andhastened to the morning apartment of Wilhelmina. In a few words, he toldher that he had received timely notice that it was the intention of thegovernment to seize her father and him as suspected traitors, and throwthem that very night in prison.
Wilhelmina made no reply.
"For your father, my dearest girl, there is no fear: he will be fullyacquitted; but I, Wilhelmina, must depart immediately, or my life isforfeited."
"Leave me, Edward?" replied Wilhelmina.
"No, you must go with me, Wilhelmina, for more than one reason; thegovernment have ordered the seizure of the persons to be made in thenight, to avoid a disturbance; but that they will not be able toprevent; the mob are but too happy to prove their loyalty, when they cando so by rapine and plunder, and depend upon it that this house will besacked and levelled to the ground before to-morrow evening. You cannotgo to prison with your father; you cannot remain here, to be at themercy of an infuriated and lawless mob. You must go with me, Wilhelmina;trust to me, not only for my sake, but for your father's."
"My father's, Edward, it is that only I am thinking of; how can I leavemy father at such a time?"
"You will save your father by so doing. Your departure with me willsubstantiate his innocence; decide, my dearest girl; decide at once; youmust either fly with me, or we must part for ever."
"Oh no, that must not be, Edward," cried Wilhelmina, bursting intotears.
After some further persuasions on the part of Ramsay, and fresh tearsfrom the attached maiden, it was agreed that she should act upon hissuggestions, and with a throbbing heart, she went to her chamber to makethe necessary preparations, while Ramsay requested that Mynheer Krausewould give him a few minutes of his company in his room above.
The syndic soon made his appearance; "Well, Mynheer Ramsay, you havesome news to tell me, I am sure;" for Mynheer Krause, notwithstandinghis rebuff from the king, could not divest himself of his failing offetching and carrying reports. Ramsay went to the door and turnedthe key.
"I have, indeed, most important news, Mynheer Krause, and, I am sorry tosay, very unpleasant also."
"Indeed," replied the syndic, with alarm.
"Yes; I find from a notice given me by one of his Majesty's council,assembled this morning at the Hague, that you are suspected oftreasonable practices."
"God in heaven!" exclaimed the syndic.
"And that this very night you are to be seized and thrown into prison."
"I, the syndic of the town! I, who put everybody else into prison!"
"Even so; such is the gratitude of King William for your long andfaithful services, Mynheer Krause! I have now sent for you, that we mayconsult as to what had best be done. Will you fly? I have the means foryour escape."
"Fly, Mynheer Ramsay; the syndic of Amsterdam fly? Never! they mayaccuse me falsely; they may condemn me and take off my head before theStadt House, but I will not fly."
"I expected this answer; and you are right, Mynheer Krause; but thereare other considerations worthy of your attention. When the populaceknow you are in prison for treason, they will level this house tothe ground."
"Well, and so they ought, if they suppose me guilty; I care little forthat."
"I am aware of that; but still your property will be lost; but it willbe but a matter of prudence to save all you can: you have already alarge sum of gold collected."
"I have four thousand guilders, at least."
"You must think of your daughter, Mynheer Krause. This gold must notfind its way into the pockets of the mob. Now, observe, the king'scutter sails to-night, and I propose that your gold be embarked, and Iwill take it over for you and keep it safe. Then, let what will happen,your daughter will not be left to beggary."
"True, true, my dear sir, there is no saying how this will end: it mayend well; but, as you say, if the house is plundered, the gold is gonefor ever. Your advice is good, and I will give you, before you go,orders for all the monies in the hands of my agents at Hamburgh andFrankfort and other places. I have taken your advice my young friend,and, though I have property to the amount of some hundred thousandguilders, with the exception of this house they will hold little of itwhich belongs to Mynheer Krause. And my poor daughter, Mynheer Ramsay!"
"Should any accident happen to you, you may trust to me, I swear it toyou, Mynheer Krause, on my hope of salvation."
Here the old man sat down much affected, and covered his face.
"Oh! my dear young friend, what a world is this, where they cannotdistinguish a true and a loyal subject from a traitor. But why could younot stay here,--protect my house from the mob,--demand the civic guard."
"I stay here, my dear sir, why I am included in the warrant of treason."
"You?"
"Yes; and there would be no chance of my escaping from my enemies, theydetest me too much. But cheer up, sir, I think that, by my means, youmay be cleared of all suspicions."
"By your means?"
"Yes; but I must not explain; my departure is necessary for your safety:I will take the whole upon myself, and you shall be saved."
"I really cannot understand you, my dear friend; but it appears to me,as if you were going to make some great sacrifice for my sake."
"I will not be questioned, Mynheer Krause; only this I say, that I amresolved that you shall be proved innocent. It is my duty. But we haveno time to lose. Let your gold be ready at sunset: I will haveeverything prepared."
"But my daughter must not remain here; she will be by herself, at themercy of the mob."
"Be satisfied, Mynheer Krause, that is also cared for, your daughtermust leave this house, and be in a safe retreat before the officers comein to seize you: I have arranged everything."
"Where do you propose sending her?"
"Not to any of your friends' houses, Mynheer Krause, no--no, but I'llsee her in safety before I leave, do not be afraid; it must depend uponcircumstances, but of that hereafter, you have no time to lose."
"God in heaven!" exclaimed Mynheer Krause, unlocking the door, "that I,the syndic, the most loyal subject!--well, well, you may truly say, 'putnot your trust in princes.'"
"Trust in me, Mynheer Krause," replied Ramsay, taking his hand.
"I do, I will, my good friend, and I will go to prison proudly, and likean innocent and injured man."
And Mynheer Krause hastened down to his counting-house, to make theproposed arrangements, Ramsay returning to Wilhelmina, to whom heimparted what had taken place between him and her father, and which hadthe effect of conforming her resolution.
We must now return to the widow Vandersloosh, who has arrived safely,but melting with the heat of her journey, at the Palace of the Hague.She immediately informed one of the domestics that she wished to speakwith his Majesty upon important business.
"I cannot take your name into his Majesty, but if you will give it me, Iwill speak to Lord Albemarle."
The widow wrote her name down upo
n a slip of paper; with which theservant went away, and then the widow sat down upon a bench in the hall,and cooled herself with her fan.
"Frau Vandersloosh," said Lord Albemarle, on reading the name.
"Let her come up,--why this," continued he, turning to the Duke ofPortland, who was sitting by him, "is the woman who is ordered to bearrested this night, upon the evidence of Lieutenant Vanslyperken; weshall learn something now, depend upon it."
The Frau Vandersloosh made her appearance, sailing in the room like aDutch man-of-war of that period, under full sail, high pooped and broadsterned. Never having stood in the presence of great men, she was not alittle confused, so she fanned herself most furiously.
"You wish to speak with me," said Lord Albemarle.
"Yes, your honour's honour, I've come to expose a snivelling traitor tohis Majesty's crown. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see now,"continued the widow, talking to herself, and fanning away.
"We are all attentive, madam."
Mistress Vandersloosh then began, out of breath, and continued out ofbreath till she had told the whole of her story, which, as the readermust be aware, only corroborated all Vanslyperken had already stated,with the exception that he had denounced the widow. Lord Albemarleallowed her to proceed without interruption, he had a great insight intocharacter, and the story of the widow confirmed him in his opinion ofVanslyperken.
"But my good woman," said Lord Albemarle, "are you aware that MrVanslyperken has already been here?"
"Yes, your honour, I met him going back, and he turned his nose up atme, and I then said, 'Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see; wait alittle, Mr Vanslyperken.'"
"And," continued Lord Albemarle, "that he has denounced you as being aparty to all these treasonable practices."
"Me--denounced me--he--O Lord, O Lord, only let me meethim face to face--let him say it then if he dares, thesnivelling--cowardly--murdering wretch."
Thereupon Mrs Vandersloosh commenced the history of Vanslyperken'swooing, of his cur Snarleyyow, of her fancy for the corporal, of hisfinding her with the corporal the day before, of her beating him offwith 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, fanningherself violently, her bosom heaving with agitation, and her face as redas a boiled lobster.
"Mistress Vandersloosh," said Lord Albemarle, "let the affair rest asit is for the present, but I shall not forget what you have told me. Ithink 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'mwanted. Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken," resumed the widow, as she walked tothe door, quite forgetting the respect due to the two noblemen, "weshall see; yes, yes, we shall see."
"Well, my lord, what think you of this?" said Lord Albemarle to theduke, 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, andhas thrown much light upon the lieutenant's conduct, who is a traitor inmy opinion, if ever there was one; but he must be allowed to fulfil histask, 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 fromRamsay, just as he was going down to the boat. As he did not know whatsteps were to be taken by government, he determined to go up to Ramsay,and inform him of his order for immediately sailing.
He might gain further information from his letters, and also remove thesuspicion of his having betrayed him. Ramsay received Mr Vanslyperkenwith an air of confidence.
"Sit down, Mr Vanslyperken, I wish to know whether there is any chanceof your sailing."
"I was about to come up to you to state that I have orders to sail thisevening."
"That is fortunate, as I intended to take a passage with you, and whatis more, Mr Vanslyperken, I have a large sum in specie, which we mustcontrive to get on board. Cannot we contrive it, I cannot gowithout it."
"A large sum in specie?" Vanslyperken reflected. "Yes, he would secureRamsay as a prisoner, and possess himself of the specie if he could.His entrapping Ramsay on board would be another proof of his fidelityand dexterity. But then Vanslyperken thought of the defection of thecorporal, but that was of no great consequence. The crew of the cutterdare not disobey him, when they were ordered to seize a traitor."
While Vanslyperken was meditating this, Ramsay fixed his eyes upon himwaiting for his reply.
"It will be difficult," observed Vanslyperken, "to get the specie onboard without being seen."
"I'm afraid so too, but I have a proposition to make. Suppose you getunder way, and--heave to a mile outside, I will then come off in thesyndic's barge. I can have the use of it. Then nothing will bediscovered."
Vanslyperken appeared to reflect again.
"I shall still run a great risk, Mr Ramsay."
"You will run some little perhaps, but you will be well paid for it, Ipromise you."
"Well, sir, I consent," replied Vanslyperken. "At what hour do youpropose to embark?"
"About eleven or a little earlier. You will have a light over the stern;hail the boat when you see it coming, and I shall answer, 'King'smessenger, with despatches;' that will be a blind to your crew--theysupposed me a king's messenger before."
"Yes, that will be prudent," replied Vanslyperken, who then took hisleave with great apparent cordiality.
"Villain," muttered Ramsay, as Vanslyperken shut the door, "I know yourthoughts."
We must pass over the remainder of this eventful day. Wilhelmina hadprocured the dress of a boy, in which disguise she proposed to elopewith Ramsay, and all her preparations were made long before the time.Mynheer Krause was also occupied in getting his specie ready forembarkation, and Ramsay in writing letters. The despatches from theHague came down about nine o'clock, and Vanslyperken received them onboard. About ten, he weighed and made sail, and hove-to about a mileoutside, with a light shown as agreed. About the time arranged, a largeboat appeared pulling up to the cutter. "Boat, ahoy!" "King's messengerwith despatches," was the reply. "All's right," said Vanslyperken, "geta rope there from forward."
The boat darted alongside of the cutter. She pulled ten oars, but, assoon as she was alongside, a number of armed men sprang from her on thedecks, and beat the crew below, while Ramsay, with pistols in his belt,and his sword in his hand, went aft to Vanslyperken.
"What is all this?" exclaimed the terrified lieutenant.
"Nothing, sir, but common prudence on my part," replied Ramsay. "I havean account to settle with you."
Vanslyperken perceived that his treachery was discovered, and he fellupon his knees. Ramsay turned away to give orders, and Vanslyperkendarted down the hatchway, and gained the lower deck.
"Never mind," said Ramsay, "he'll not escape me; come, my lads, hand upthe boxes as fast as you can."
Ramsay then went to the boat, and brought up Wilhelmina, who hadremained there, and conducted her down into the cabin. The boxes werealso handed down, the boat made fast, and the conspirators remained inpossession of the deck. The helm was taken by one of them; sail againmade on the cutter, and the boat with a boat-keeper towed astern.