and it was canvassed with the widow whether he should accept the offers or not, and finally it was agreed that he should, as there would be little or no risk.  Now, it so happened, that the corporal had gone over to the Jesuit’s house to agree to the proposals, and was actually in the house conversing with him, when Vanslyperken arrived and knocked at the door.  The corporal ascertaining who it was by a small clear spot left in the painted window for scrutiny, begged that he might be concealed, and was immediately shown into the next room by a door, which was hid behind a screen.  The Jesuit did not exactly shut the door, as he supposed he did, and the corporal, who wondered what could have brought Vanslyperken there, kept it ajar during the whole of the interview and the counting out of the money.  Vanslyperken left, and as he shut the other door the corporal did the same with the one he held ajar, and took a seat at the other end of the room, that the Jesuit might not suspect his having overheard all that had passed.

Now the Jesuit had made up his mind that it was better to treat with the principal than with a second, and therefore did not further require the services of Corporal Van Spitter.  He told him that the lieutenant having received private information that one of the people of the cutter had been seen at his house, and knowing that he was the French agent, had come to inform him that if he attempted to employ any of his men in carrying letters, that he would inform against him to the authorities.  That he was very sorry, but that after such a notice he was afraid that the arrangements could not proceed.  The corporal appeared to be satisfied, and took his final leave.  No wonder, therefore, that the widow and Babette were on the watch, when they saw Vanslyperken enter the house, at the very time the corporal was there also.

The corporal went over to the widow’s, and narrated all that he had heard and seen.

“Why, the traitor!” exclaimed the widow.

“Yes, mein Gott!” repeated the corporal.

“The villain to sell his country for gold.”

“Yes, mein Gott!” repeated the corporal.

“Fifty guineas, did you say, Mynheer Van Spitter?”

“Yes, mein Gott!” repeated the corporal.

“Oh, the wretch!—­well,” continued the widow, “at all events he is in your power.”

“Yes, mein Gott!”

“You can hang him any day in the week.”

“Yes, mein Gott!”

“Ho, ho!  Mr Vanslyperken:—­well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we will see,” continued the widow, indignant at the lieutenant receiving so large a sum, which would otherwise have been, in all probability, made over to Corporal Van Spitter, with whom she now felt that their interests were in common.

“Tousand tyfels!” roared the corporal, dashing his foot upon one of the flaps of the little table before them with so much force, that it was broken short off and fell down on the floor.