Vanslyperken turned pale.

“Who could have taken it?”

“That’s what I said, sir.  Who dare come in the cabin to take the knife? and what could they have taken it for, but unless it was to cut summut?” And Smallbones looked his master full in the face.  And the lieutenant quailed before his boy.  He could not meet his gaze, but turned away.

“Very odd,” continued Smallbones, perceiving the advantage he had gained.

“Leave the cabin, sir,” cried Vanslyperken.

“Sha’n’t I make no inquiries how this ere knife came there, sir?” replied Smallbones.

“No, sir, mind your own business.  I’ve a great mind to flog you for its being found there—­all your carelessness.”

“That would be a pretty go,” murmured Smallbones, as he shut the cabin door.

The feeling of vengeance against Smallbones, was now redoubled in the breast of his master; and the only regret he felt at the transactions of the day before was, that the boy had not been drowned.

“I’ll have him yet,” muttered the lieutenant; but he forgot that he was shaving himself, and the involuntary movements of his lips caused him to cut a large gash on his right cheek, from which the blood trickled fast.

“Curses on the”—­(razor he was going to say, but he changed it to)—­“scoundrel!”

A slice with a razor is certainly a very annoying thing.  After a certain time, Mr Vanslyperken finished his toilet, called for his breakfast, went on deck, and as the day was fine, ordered the paint to be renewed, and then went on shore to ascertain if there were any commands for him at the admiral’s office.

As he walked up the street in a brown study, he at last observed that a very pretty woman dogged him, sometimes walking a-head and looking back, at others dropping astern, and then again ranging up alongside.  He looked her in the face, and she smiled sweetly, and then turned her head coquettishly, and then looked again with eyes full of meaning.  Now, although Mr Vanslyperken had always avoided amours on account of the expense entailed upon them, yet he was, like a dry chip, very inflammable, and the extreme beauty of the party made him feel unusual emotions.  Her perseverance too—­and her whole appearance so very respectable—­so superior to the class of people who generally accosted him.  He thought of the widow and her money-bags, and thought, also, how infinitely more desirable the widow would be, if she possessed but the beauty of the present party.

“I do believe I’ve lost my way,” exclaimed the young person.  “Pray, sir, can you tell me the way to Castle Street, for I’m almost a stranger?  And” (added she, laughing) “I really don’t know my way back to my own house.”