t is well said," observed the Duke of Portland.

"I have a few questions to put to you, Mr Vanslyperken," observed his
majesty.

"What is the cave they mention so often?"

"It is on the bank of the Isle of Wight, your majesty. I did not know
of its existence but from the letters--but I once laid a whole night in
the cove underneath it, to intercept the smugglers, upon information
that I had received; but the alarm was given, and they escaped."

"Who is their agent at Portsmouth?"

"A Jew of the name of Lazarus, residing in Little Orange Street, at the
back of the Point, your majesty."

"Do you know any of the names of the conspirators?"

"I do not, your majesty, except a woman, who is very active one Moggy
Salisbury--her husband, not a month back, was the boatswain of the
cutter, but by some interest or another, he has obtained his discharge."

"My Lord of Portland, take a memorandum to inquire who it was applied
for the discharge of that man. Mr Vanslyperken, you may retire--we
will call you in by-and-bye--you will be secret as to what has passed."

"I have one more duty to perform," replied Vanslyperken, taking some
rouleaus of gold out of his pocket; "this is the money received from the
traitors--it is not for a king's officer to have it in his possession."

"You are right, Mr Vanslyperken, but the gold of traitors is forfeited
to the crown, and it is now mine; you will accept it as a present from
your king."

Mr Vanslyperken took the gold from the table, made a bow, and retired
from the royal presence.

The reader will acknowledge that it was impossible to play his cards
better than Mr Vanslyperken had done in this interview, and that he
deserved great credit for his astute conduct. With such diplomatic
talents, he would have made a great prime minister.

"The council was ordered at twelve o'clock, my lords. These letters
must [be] produced. That they are genuine appears to me beyond a
doubt."

"That they are faithful copies, I doubt not," replied Lord Albemarle,
"but--"

"But what, my Lord Albemarle?"

"I very much suspect the fidelity of the copier--there is something
more, that has not been told, depend upon it."

"Why do you think so, my lord?"

"Because, your majesty, allowing that a man would act the part that Mr
Vanslyperken says that he has done to discover the conspiracy, still,
would he not naturally, to avoid any risk to himself, have furnished
Government with the first corresp