important communications, and we shall not forget, in due time, to
reward your zeal and loyalty as it deserves. At present, it is
necessary that you sail for England as soon as our despatches are ready,
which will be before midnight; you will then receive your orders from
the admiral, at Portsmouth, and I have no doubt you will take the
opportunity of affording us fresh proofs of your fidelity and
attachment."

Mr Vanslyperken bowed humbly and retired, delighted with the successful
result of his manoeuvre, and with a gay heart he leaped into his calash,
and drove off.

"Yes, yes," thought he, "Madam Vandersloosh, you would betray me. We
shall see. Yes, yes, we shall see, Madam Vandersloosh."

And sure enough he did see Madam Vandersloosh, who in another calash was
driving to the palace, and who met him face to face.

Vanslyperken turned up his nose at her as he passed by, and the widow,
astonished at his presumption, thought, as she went on her way, "Well,
well, Mr Vanslyperken, we shall see: you may turn up your snivelling
nose, but stop till your head's in the halter--yes, Mr Vanslyperken,
stop till your head's in the halter."

We must leave Mr Vanslyperken to drive, and the widow Vandersloosh to
drive, while we drive on ourselves. The subsequent events of this
eventful day we will narrate in the following chapter.

CHAPTER FORTY SIX.

IN WHICH THERE IS MUCH BUSTLE AND CONFUSION, PLOT AND COUNTER-PLOT.

About two hours after the council had broken up, the following
communication was delivered into the hands of Ramsay by an old woman,
who immediately took her departure.

"The lieutenant of the cutter has taken copies of all your
correspondence, and betrayed you. You must fly immediately, as at
midnight you and all of you will be seized. In justice to Mynheer
Krause, leave documents to clear him.

"The cutter will sail this evening--with orders to secure your friends
at Portsmouth and the cave."

"Now, by the holy cross of our Saviour! I will have revenge upon that
dastard; there is no time to lose; five minutes for reflection, and then
to act," thought Ramsay, as he twisted up this timely notice, which, it
must be evident to the reader, must have been sent by one who had been
summoned to the council. Ramsay's plans were soon formed; he dispatched
a trusty messenger to the Jesuit's, desiring him to communicate
immediately with the others, and upon what plan to proceed. He then
wrote a note t