d and indignantly in return.

"And you arrived yesterday morning? Pray, sir, why were not those
letters delivered at once?"

"Because I had no time," replied Vanslyperken, sulkily.

"No time, sir! what do you mean by that? Your time is ours, sir. You
are paid for it; for one shilling that you receive from the rascally
Government you condescend to serve and to betray, you receive from us
pounds. Let not this happen again, my [dear] sir, or you may repent
it."

Vanslyperken was not in the best of humours, and he angrily replied,
"Then you may get others to do your work, for this is the last I'll do;
pay me for them, and let me go."

"The last you'll do! you'll do as much as we please, and as long as we
please. You are doubly in our power, scoundrel! You betray the
Government you serve, but you shall not betray us. If you had a
thousand lives, you are a dead man the very moment you flinch from or
neglect our work. Do your work faithfully, and you will be rewarded;
but either you must do our work or die. You have but to choose."

"Indeed!" replied Vanslyperken.

"Yes, indeed! And to prove that I am in earnest, I shall punish you for
your neglect, by not paying you this time. You may leave the letters
and go. But mind that you give us timely notice when you are ordered
back to the Hague, for we shall want you."

Vanslyperken, indignant at this language, obeyed his first impulse,
which was to snatch up the letters and attempt to leave the room.

"No pay, no letters!" exclaimed he, opening the door.

"Fool!" cried the young man with a bitter sneer, not stirring from his
seat.

Vanslyperken opened the door, and to his amazement there were three
swords pointed to his heart. He started back.

"Will you leave the letters now?" observed the young man. Vanslyperken
threw them down on the table with every sign of perturbation, and
remained silent and pale.

"And now perfectly understand me, sir," said the young cavalier. "We
make a great distinction between those who have joined the good cause,
or rather, who have continued steadfast to their king from feelings of
honour and loyalty, and those who are to be bought and sold. We honour
the first, we despise the latter. Their services we require, and,
therefore, we employ them. A traitor to the sovereign from whom he
receives his pay is not likely to be trusted by us. I know your
character, that is sufficient. Now, although the Government make no
dif