“If you please, Mynheer Vanslyperken, you think me mad last night ’cause I see de tyfel at your shoulder.  Mynheer Vanslyperken, I see him twice again this night on lower deck.  Mein Gott!  Mynheer Vanslyperken, I say twice.”

“Saw him again twice!” replied the lieutenant.

“Yes, Mynheer Vanslyperken, I see twice again—­I see him very often since I drift in de boat.  First, I see him when in de boat—­since that I see him one time, two times, in de night.”

“It’s just as I thought,” said Mr Vanslyperken, “he has never got over his alarm of that night.—­Very well, Corporal Van Spitter, it’s of no consequence.  I was very angry with you last night, because I thought you were taking great liberties; but I see now how it is, you must keep yourself quiet, and as soon as we arrive at Portsmouth, you had better lose a little blood.”

“How much, Mynheer Vanslyperken, do you wish I should lose?” replied the corporal, with his military salute.

“About eight ounces, corporal.”

“Yes, sir,” replied the corporal, turning on his pivot, and marching out of the cabin.

This was a peculiarly satisfactory interview to both parties.  Mr Vanslyperken was overjoyed at the corporal’s explanation, and the corporal was equally delighted at having so easily gulled his superior.

The cutter weighed that morning, and sailed for Portsmouth.  We shall pass over the passage without any further remarks than that the corporal was reinstated into Mr Vanslyperken’s good graces—­that he appeared as usual to be harsh with the ship’s company, and to oppress Smallbones more than ever; but this was at the particular request of the lad, who played his own part to admiration—­that Mr Vanslyperken again brought up the question of flogging Jemmy Ducks, but was prevented by the corporal’s expressing his fears of a mutiny—­and had also some secret conference with the corporal as to his desire of vengeance upon Smallbones, to which Van Spitter gave a ready ear, and appeared to be equally willing with the lieutenant to bring it about.  Things were in this state when the cutter arrived at Portsmouth, and, as usual, ran into the harbour.  It may be supposed that Mr Vanslyperken was in all haste to go on shore to pay his visit to his charming widow, but still there was one thing to be done first, which was to report himself to the admiral.

On his arrival at the admiral’s, much to his dissatisfaction, he was informed that he must hold himself ready for sailing immediately, as despatches for the Hague were expected down on the next morning.  This would give but a short time to pay his addresses, and he therefore made all haste to the widow’s presence, and was most graciously received.  She almost flew into his arms, upbraided him for being so long away, for not having written to her, and showed such marks of strong attachment, that Vanslyperken was in ecstasies.  When he told her that he expected to sail again immediately, she put her handkerchief up to her eyes, and appeared, to Vanslyperken at least, to shed a few bitter tears.  As soon as she was a little more composed, Vanslyperken produced the packet with which he was entrusted, which she opened, and took out two letters, one for herself, and the other addressed to a certain person in a house in another street.