“Babette, you must go there by-and-bye and see if you can find out whether that person he brought over, and he called a king’s messenger, is living at the syndic’s house.  I think he must be, or why would Vanslyperken go there? and if he is, there’s treason going on—­that’s all! and I’ll find it out, or my name is not Vandersloosh.”

Shortly after, Mr Vanslyperken arrived at the house and was received with the usual treacherous cordiality; but he had not remained more than an hour when Coble came to him (having been despatched by Short), to inform Mr Vanslyperken that a frigate was coming in with the royal standard at the main, indicating that King William was on board of her.

This intelligence obliged Mr Vanslyperken to hasten on board, as it was necessary to salute, and also to pay his respects on board of the frigate.

The frigate was within a mile when Mr Vanslyperken arrived on board of the cutter, and when the batteries saluted, the cutter did the same.  Shortly afterwards the frigate dropped her anchor and returned the salute.  Mr Vanslyperken, attired in his full uniform, ordered his boat to be manned and pulled on board.

On his arrival on the quarter-deck Vanslyperken was received by the captain of the frigate, and then presented to King William of Nassau, who was standing on the other side of the deck, attended by the Duke of Portland, Lord Albemarle, and several others of his courtiers, not all of them quite as faithful as the two whom we have named.

When Mr Vanslyperken was brought forward to the presence of his Majesty, he trembled almost as much as when he had beheld the supposed spirit of Smallbones, and well he might, for his conscience told him as he bowed his knee that he was a traitor.  His agitation was, however, ascribed to his being daunted by the unusual presence of royalty.  And Albemarle, as Vanslyperken retreated with a cold sweat on his forehead, observed to the king with a smile,

“That worthy lieutenant would show a little more courage, I doubt not, your Majesty, if he were in the presence of your enemies.”

“It is to be hoped so,” replied the king, with a smile.  “I agree with you, Keppel.”

But his Majesty and Lord Albemarle did not know Mr Vanslyperken, as the reader will acknowledge.

Chapter XLI

In which is shown how dangerous it is to tell a secret.

Mr Vanslyperken received orders to attend with his boat upon his Majesty’s landing, which took place in about a quarter of an hour afterwards, amidst another war of cannon.