MAJOR GUIDO AMATI HAS A SPREE.
Chester is not the man to long for Alva’s treasure without desperate and immediate efforts to get them. He is soon on board the Dover Lass, and, locking himself in his cabin, makes examination of the packet he has taken from the doublet of Paciotto, who is now hanging, food for the crows, in the market-place of Flushing.
On carefully opening the parchment wrapping he discovers [[132]]drawings of three large keys to their exact size and dimensions, numbered, respectively, one, two and three. Beneath directions for their use:
“For first door use in succession keys numbers one, two and three.
“For second door, keys numbered three, two and one.
“For third door, key number two, then number one, then number three.
“Use exactly in the order noted. Any change in this rotation may injure locks.”
Besides this there is a sketch showing the direction and length of the passage under the Citadel, also where the sluice gate connected with the statue of Alva opens into the vaulted passage, and how that can be made immovable so that even if the statue is destroyed the waters of the Schelde will not enter the passageway to drown those at work upon the doors.
These drawings and directions are upon the finest and lightest Italian paper, so as to be of very small bulk and easy of concealment.
Of these he makes an exact and careful copy, this he deposits in his strong box in the cabin of the Dover Lass. The original he carefully secures upon his person.
Then the Englishman goes to meditating. To gain this treasure it is evident that he must not only go to Antwerp for a sufficient time to have the keys manufactured by some skilled locksmith, but also have with him a vessel and crew, capable of conveying away the booty after he has obtained it. To visit Antwerp alone is an achievement of the greatest danger. To take with him any portion of his crew with a vessel and lie off the docks seems to him impossible.
But finally, after turning over the enterprise in his mind again and again (for he will not even trust the secret to Dalton, his first officer, who he knows is true as steel), the following simple yet ingenious plan comes to him: He will take the Dover Lass and with her capture Spanish merchantmen until he finds one the captain of which has never been in Antwerp, though consigned to merchants in that place. Having taken possession of this vessel he will dispose of the captain and crew so that they will never come to light again. He himself will assume, under disguise, the name and [[133]]post of the captain of the vessel. He will take, carefully selected from his crew, such men as most resemble Spanish and Flemish tars, and sail the vessel deliberately up to Antwerp, using his papers and clearings from the Spanish port, and deliver his cargo to the consignee of the vessel as if he were the very captain whose place he has assumed. While discharging his cargo he can probably (with the assistance of Antony Oliver, if he can but find him in the place) obtain possession of the treasure of the Duke, load his vessel with it, taking cargo in the meantime as regular trader for any port to which he may be consigned or chartered by Antwerp merchants.
Then, when once more on the open sea, he will sail to England and land his treasure with the same impunity that Drake and Hawkins and other English freebooters carry in their captured ingots from the Spanish main. In fact, he will assert Alva’s gold came from a captured galleon and pay Elizabeth her ten per cent. upon the same, the usual impost on such plunder.