but lament the present, for she was on the floor of a dungeon,
so she occasionally wrung her hands; but she looked forward to the
future, and to better times, not abandoning herself to despair, but
comforting herself with hope, as might have been clearly proved by her
constant repetition of these words: "Well, well, Mr Vanslyperken, we
shall see."

That the night appeared long to both parties is not to be denied, but
the longest night will have its end, so long as the world continues to
turn round; the consequence was, that the morning came as usual to the
syndic, although the widow from the peculiarity of her situation, had
not the same advantage.

After morning, comes breakfast, in the natural order of mundane affairs,
and kings, being but men, and subject to the same wants as other
mortals, his Majesty, King William, sat down, and despatched a very
hasty meal, in company with his Grace the Duke of Portland, and the
Right Honourable the Lord Albemarle. History does not record, as it
sometimes does in works of this description, by what viands his
Majesty's appetite was stimulated; we must therefore pass it over, and
as his Majesty did on that occasion, as soon as breakfast was over,
proceed to business.

"Have you received information, my Lord Albemarle, how many of the
conspirators have been seized?"

"May it please your Majesty, I am sorry to inform you, that all who were
innocent have been imprisoned, and all who were guilty, have escaped."

Upon this intelligence his Majesty looked very grave.

"How do you mean, my lord?" said he, after a pause.

"The conspirators have all received some friendly notice, and the only
two who are in custody are the syndic, Mynheer Krause, and the woman who
keeps the Lust Haus."

"And you put the syndic down as an innocent person, my lord?"

"If your Majesty will be pleased to read this communication," replied
Lord Albemarle, presenting Ramsay's letter and enclosures, "you will
then be of my opinion."

King William took the letter and read it. "What Ramsay--he who was
attainted with Sir Robert Barclay?"

"The same, your Majesty."

"So near us, and escaped--but what credence would you place in him?"

"Every credence, may it please your Majesty. I believe him to be
incapable of a lie."

"A traitor, like him!"

"A traitor to your Majesty, but most true to his Catholic Majesty, King
James that was. But if I venture to point out to your Majesty, the
enclosures prove tha