"Mein Gott, yes," replied the corporal.
Chapter XLV
In which Mr Vanslyperken proves his loyalty and his fidelity to King William.
Mr Vanslyperken hastened from his inglorious conflict, maddened with rage and disappointment. He returned on board, went down into his cabin, and threw himself on his bed. His hopes and calculations had been so brilliant--rid of his enemy Smallbones--with gold in possession, and more in prospect, to be so cruelly deceived by the widow--the cockatrice! Then by one to whom he fully confided, and who knew too many of his secrets already--Corporal Van Spitter--he too!--and to dare to aspire to the widow--it was madness--and then their knowledge of his treason--the corporal having witnessed his receiving the gold--with such bitter enemies what could he expect but a halter--he felt it even now round his neck, and Vanslyperken groaned in the bitterness of his spirit.
In the meantime, there was a consultation between the widow and the corporal as to the best method of proceeding. That the corporal could expect nothing but the most determined hostility from Vanslyperken was certain; but for this the corporal cared little, as he had all the crew of the cutter on his side, and he was in his own person too high in rank to be at the mercy of Vanslyperken.
After many pros and cons, and at least a dozen bottles of beer--for the excitement on the part of the corporal, and the exertion of the widow, had made them both dry--it was resolved that the Frau Vandersloosh should demand an audience at the Hague the next morning, and should communicate the treasonable practices of Mr Vanslyperken, calling upon the corporal as a witness to the receipt of the money from the Jesuit.
"Mein Gott!" exclaimed the corporal, striking his bull forehead as if a new thought had required being forced out, "but they will ask me how I came there myself, and what shall I say?"
"Say that the Jesuit father had sent for you to try and seduce you to do his treason, but that you would not consent."
"Mein Gott, yes--that will do."