He fitted it to the lock and opened the door, when his olfactory nerves were offended with a dreadful stench, which surprised him the more as the casement was open.  Vanslyperken surveyed the room, he perceived that the blood had been washed from the floor and sand strewed over it.  Had he not known that Smallbones had been on board of the cutter the day before, he would have thought that it had been the smell of the dead body not yet removed.  This thought crossing his imagination, immediately made the truth flash upon him, and, as if instinctively, he went up to the bed and pulled down the clothes, when he recoiled back with horror at uncovering the face of his mother, now of a livid blue and in the last stage of putrefaction.

Overcome with the horrid sight, and the dreadful stench which accompanied it, he reeled to the casement and gasped for breath.  A sickness came over him, and for some time he was incapable of acting and barely capable of reflection.

“She is gone then,” thought he at last, and he shuddered when he asked himself where.  “She must have fallen by the hands of the lad,” continued he, and immediately the whole that had happened appeared to be revealed to him.  “Yes, yes, he has recovered from the blow—­killed her and locked the door—­all is clear now, but I have revenged her death.”

Vanslyperken, who had now recovered himself, went softly to the door, took out the key and locked himself in.  He had been debating in his mind whether he should call in the neighbours; but, on reflection, as no one had seen him enter, he determined that he would not.  He would take his gold and leave the door locked and the key under it, as he found it before her death was discovered:  it would be supposed that she died a natural death, for the state of the body would render it impossible to prove the contrary.  But there was one act necessary to be performed at which Vanslyperken’s heart recoiled.  The key of the oak chest was about his mother’s person and he must obtain it, he must search for it in corruption and death, amongst creeping worms and noisome stench.  It was half an hour before he could make up his mind to the task! but what will avarice not accomplish!

He covered up the face, and with a trembling hand turned over the bedclothes.  But we must not disgust our readers, it will suffice to say, that the key was obtained, and the chest opened.

Vanslyperken found all his own gold, and much more than he had ever expected belonging to his mother.  There were other articles belonging to him, but he thought it prudent not to touch them.  He loaded himself with the treasure, and when he felt that it was all secure, for he was obliged to divide it in different parcels and stow it in various manners about his person, he relocked the chest, placed the key in the cupboard, and quitting the room made fast the door, and like a dutiful son, left the remains of his mother to be inhumed at the expense of the parish.