“Now don't speak in that bullying manner, sir, or I shall not let you hear its contents.”
“Very well, Dolly; but how came you to get the letter? We are at war with the Dutch Settlements now, you know.”
“That is the amusing part of it. Now listen, and I will read it to you;” and Dolly spread out a large sheet of paper, and read aloud in mimicking tones—
“Mein dear Mees Dolly,—You did vant ein loafer who could vight vor his coundry, and vould haf no man who vas yoost ein merchant. Very goot. I mineself now command the privateer Swift, vich vas used to be sailing in gompany mit La Brave und La Mouche in der service of der French Republic, und did den vight und beat all der Anglische ships in der Anglische Channel. Id is drue dot your La Minerve did by shance von tay capture der Swift, and sold her to the American beoples, but our Batavian merchants did buy her from them, und now I haf god de command. Und now dot your goundrymens do annoys der Deutsche Settlements in our Easd Indies, ve do mean to beat dem every dimes ve cadgh dem in dese zees. Und I do send mein ledder to you, mein tear Mees Dorotee, by der greasy old vale-ship Mary Ann, yoost to led you know dot I haf not vorgotten you mid your bride eye. Und ven I haf gaptured all der Anglische ships in der East Indies I vill sail mein Swift to Sydney and claim you vor mein vrau, und do you nod be vrightened. I vill dake care dot you und your beople shall not be hurt, because I do loaf you ferry mooch. Der master of der Mary Ann vill dell you I vas ferry goot to him for your sake. I did but take his gargo, and did give him und his grew liberdy to go to Sydney und dake this letter to you, mein vrau, in der dime to gom, as I did dell him.—I remain your loafing Richard Portveldt.”
Foster jumped to his feet “The rascally Dutch swab, to dare to——”
“To dare to write to me,” said Dolly laughingly.
“To dare to write to you! To suppose for one moment that you—oh, d—— the fellow! If I come across him, I'll——”
“But all the same, he's very brave,” said Dolly demurely; “he is fighting for his country, you know.”
“The boasting fool!” ejaculated Foster contemptuously.
“But he is captain of the Swift, and the Swift did beat some of the English ships. I have heard my father say that.”