We must not, however, forget the syndic and the widow Vandersloosh, whom we left in confinement at Amsterdam.  We left Mynheer Krause smoking his pipe, and showing to those about him how great a great man always proves himself when under adversity.  The widow also, had she performed in public, would have been acknowledged to have been a great woman.  She could not but lament the present, for she was on the floor of a dungeon, so she occasionally wrung her hands; but she looked forward to the future, and to better times, not abandoning herself to despair, but comforting herself with hope, as might have been clearly proved by her constant repetition of these words:  “Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see.”

That the night appeared long to both parties is not to be denied, but the longest night will have its end, so long as the world continues to turn round; the consequence was, that the morning came as usual to the syndic, although the widow from the peculiarity of her situation, had not the same advantage.

After morning, comes breakfast, in the natural order of mundane affairs, and kings, being but men, and subject to the same wants as other mortals, his Majesty, King William, sat down, and despatched a very hasty meal, in company with his Grace the Duke of Portland, and the Right Honourable the Lord Albemarle.  History does not record, as it sometimes does in works of this description, by what viands his Majesty’s appetite was stimulated; we must therefore pass it over, and as his Majesty did on that occasion, as soon as breakfast was over, proceed to business.

“Have you received information, my Lord Albemarle, how many of the conspirators have been seized?”

“May it please your Majesty, I am sorry to inform you, that all who were innocent have been imprisoned, and all who were guilty, have escaped.”

Upon this intelligence his Majesty looked very grave.

“How do you mean, my lord?” said he, after a pause.

“The conspirators have all received some friendly notice, and the only two who are in custody are the syndic, Mynheer Krause, and the woman who keeps the Lust Haus.”

“And you put the syndic down as an innocent person, my lord?”

“If your Majesty will be pleased to read this communication,” replied Lord Albemarle, presenting Ramsay’s letter and enclosures, “you will then be of my opinion.”

King William took the letter and read it.  “What Ramsay—­he who was attainted with Sir Robert Barclay?”

“The same, your Majesty.”

“So near us, and escaped—­but what credence would you place in him?”

“Every credence, may it please your Majesty.  I believe him to be incapable of a lie.”

“A traitor, like him!”

“A traitor to your Majesty, but most true to his Catholic Majesty, King James that was.  But if I venture to point out to your Majesty, the enclosures prove that Lieutenant Vanslyperken’s word is not of much value.  He, at least, is a double traitor.”