We observed, in a previous chapter, that Mr Vanslyperken was observed
by Moggy Salisbury to go into a jeweller's shop, and remain there some
time, and that Moggy was very inquisitive to know what it was that could
induce Mr Vanslyperken to go into so unusual a resort for him.
The next day she went into the shop upon a pretence of looking at some
ear-rings, and attempted to enter into conversation with the jeweller;
but the jeweller, not perhaps admiring Moggy's appearance, and not
thinking her likely to be a customer, dismissed her with very short
answers. Failing in her attempt, Moggy determined to wait till Nancy
Corbett should come over, for she knew that Nancy could dress and assume
the fine lady, and be more likely to succeed than herself. But although
Moggy could not penetrate into the mystery, it is necessary the reader
should be informed of the proceedings of Mr Vanslyperken.
When Ramsay had shown him how to open the Government despatches, and had
provided him with the false seals for the re-impressions, he forgot that
he also was pointing out to Vanslyperken the means of also opening his
own, and discovering his secrets, as well as those of Government; but
Vanslyperken, who hated Ramsay, on account of his behaviour towards him,
and would with pleasure have seen the whole of his party, as well as
himself, on the gibbet, thought that it might be just as well to have
two strings to his bow: and he argued, that if he could open the letters
of the conspirators, and obtain their secrets, they would prove valuable
to him, and perhaps save his neck, if he were betrayed to the
Government. On his passage, therefore, to Amsterdam, he had carefully
examined the seal of Ramsay, and also that on the letters forwarded to
him; and, having made a drawing, and taken the impression in wax, as a
further security, he had applied to the jeweller in question to get him
seals cut out with these impressions, and of the exact form and size.
The jeweller, who cared little what he did, provided that he was well
paid, asked no questions, but a very high price, and Vanslyperken,
knowing that they would be cheap to him at any price, closed with him on
his own terms, provided that they were immediately forthcoming. In the
week, according to the agreement, the seals were prepared. Mr
Vanslyperken paid his money, and now was waiting for orders to sail.
The dog's stump was much better.
On the 9th day, a summons to the admiral's house was sent, and
Vanslyperken was ordered to hold himself in readiness to sail the next
morning at daylight. He immediately repaired to the Jew's, to give
intimation, and from thence to his mother's to prepare her for the
arrival of Smallbones that evening a little before dusk.
Vanslyperken had arranged that, as soon as the murder had been
committed, he would go to the Jew's for letters, and then hasten on
board, sailing the next morning at daylight; so that if there was any
discovery, the whole onus might be on his mother, who, for all he cared,
might be hung. It is a true saying, that a good mother makes a good
son.
When Vanslyperken intimated to Smallbones that he was going on shore in
the evening, and should take him with him, the lad did not forget the
last walk that he had in company with his master, and apprehensive that
some mischief was intended, he said, "I hope it ar'n't for to fetch
another walk in the country, sir?"
"No, no," replied Vanslyperken, "it's to take some biscuit up to a poor
old woman close by. I don't want to be robbed, any more than you do,
Smallbones."
But the very quick reply of his master only increased the apprehension
of Smallbones, who left the cabin, and hastened to Corporal Van Spitter,
to consult with him.
Corporal Van Spitter was of the same opinion as Smallbones, that
mischief was intended him, and offered to provide him with a pistol; but
Smallbones, who knew little about fire-arms, requested that he might
have a bayonet instead, which he could use better. He was supplied with
this, which he concealed within his shirt, and when ordered, he went
into the boat with Vanslyperken. They landed, and it was dark before
they arrived at the half-way houses. Vanslyperken ascended the stairs,
and ordered Smallbones to follow him. As soon as they were in the room,
Mr Vanslyperken said, "Here is the biscuit, good woman, and much good
may it do you."
"It's very kind of you, sir, and many thanks. It's not often that
people are charitable now-a-days, and this has been a hard winter for
poor folk. Put the bag down there, my good little fellow," continued
the old hypocrite, addressing Smallbones.
"And now, good woman, I shall leave my lad with you, till I come back.
I have to call at a friend's, and I need not take him. Smallbones, stay
here till I return; get the biscuit out of the bag, as we must take that
on board again."
Smallbones had no objection to remain with a withered, palsied old
woman. He could have no fear of her, and he really began to think that
his master had been guilty of charity.
Mr Vanslyperken departed, leaving Smallbones in company with his
mother.
"Come now, my lad, come to the chair, and sit down by the fire," for a
fire had been lighted by the old woman expressly, "sit down, and I'll
see if I can find you something in my cupboard; I have, I know, a drop
of cordial left somewhere. Sit down, child; you have had the kindness
to bring the bread up for me, and I am grateful."
The tones of the old beldame's voice were very different from those she
usually indulged in; there was almost a sweetness about them, which
proved what she might have effected at the period when she was fair and
young. Smallbones felt not the least disquietude; he sat down in the
chair by the fire, while the old woman looked in the cupboard behind him
for the cordial, of which she poured him a good allowance in a teacup.
Smallbones sipped and sipped, he was not in a hurry to get rid of it, as
it was good; the old woman went again to the cupboard, rattled the
things about a little, and then, on a sudden, taking out a large hammer,
as Smallbones unconsciously sipped, she raised it with both her hands,
and down came the blow on his devoted head.
The poor lad dropped the cup, sprang up convulsively, staggered, and
then fell. Once he rolled over, his leg quivered, and he then moved no
more.
The beldame watched him with the hammer in her hand, ready to repeat the
blow if necessary; indeed, she would have repeated it had it not been
that after he fell, in turning over Smallbones' head had rolled under
the low bedstead where she slept.
"My work is sure," muttered she, "and _all_ the _gold_ is _mine_."
Again she watched, but there was no motion--a stream of blood appeared
from under the bed, and ran in a little rivulet towards the fire-place.
"I wish I could pull him out," said the old woman, lugging at the lad's
legs; "another blow or two would make more sure." But the effort was
above her strength, and she abandoned it. "It's no matter," muttered
she; "he'll never tell tales again."
But there the old hag was mistaken; Smallbones had been stunned, but not
killed; the blow of the hammer had fortunately started off, divided the
flesh of the skull for three inches, with a gash which descended to his
ear. At the very time that she uttered her last expressions, Smallbones
was recovering his senses, but he was still confused, as if in a dream.
"Yes, yes," said the old woman, after some minutes' pause, "all the gold
is mine."
The lad heard this sentence, and he now remembered where he was, and
what had taken place. He was about to rise, when there was a knocking
at the door, and he lay still. It was Vanslyperken. The door was
opened by the old beldame.
"Is it done?" said he, in a loud whisper.
"Done!" cried the hag; "yes, and well done. Don't tell me of charmed
life. My blows are sure--see there."
"Are you sure that he is dead?"
"Quite sure, child--and all the gold is mine."
Vanslyperken looked with horror at the stream of blood still flowing,
and absorbed by the ashes in the grate.
"It was you did it, mother; recollect it was not I," cried he.
"I did it--and you paid for it--and all the gold is mine."
"But are you quite sure that he is dead?"
"Sure--yes, and in judgment now, if there is any."
Vanslyperken surveyed the body of Smallbones, who, although he had heard
every word, lay without motion, for he knew his life depended on it.
After a minute or two the lieutenant was satisfied.
"I must go on board now, mother; but what will you do with the body?"
"Leave that to me; who ever comes in here? Leave that to me, craven,
and, as you say, go on board."
Vanslyperken opened the door, and went out of the room; the old hag made
the door fast, and then sat down on the chair, which she replaced by the
side of the fire, with her back to Smallbones.
The lad felt very faint from loss of blood, and was sick at the stomach,
but his senses were in their full vigour. He now was assured that
Vanslyperken was gone, and that he had only the old woman opposed to
him. His courage was unsubdued, and he resolved to act in self-defence
if required; and he softly drew the bayonet out of his breast, and then
watched the murderous old hag, who was rocking herself in the chair.
"Yes, yes, the gold is mine," muttered she--"I've won it, and I'll count
it. I won it dearly;--another murder--well, 'tis but one more. Let me
see, what shall I do with the body? I must burn it, by bits and bits--
and I'll count the gold--it's all mine, for he's dead."
Here the old woman turned round to look at the body, and her keen eyes
immediately perceived that there was a slight change of position.
"Heh!" cried she, "not quite dead yet? we must have the hammer again,"
and she rose from her chair, and walked with an unsteady pace to pick up
the hammer, which was at the other side of the fire-place. Smallbones,
who felt that now was his time, immediately rose, but before he could
recover his feet, she had turned round to him: with a sort of low yell,
she darted at him with an agility not to be imagined in one of her years
and decrepit appearance, and struck at him. Smallbones raised his left
arm, and received the blow, and with his right plunged the bayonet deep
into the wrinkled throat of the old woman. She grappled with him, and
the struggle was dreadful; she caught his throat in one of her bony
hands, and the nails pierced into it like the talons of a bird of prey--
the fingers of the other she inserted into the jagged and gaping wound
on his head, and forced the flesh still more asunder, exerting all her
strength to force him on his back; but the bayonet was still in her
throat, and with the point descending towards the body, and Smallbones
forced and forced it down, till it was buried to the hilt. In a few
seconds the old hag loosed her hold, quivered, and fell back dead; and
the lad was so exhausted with the struggle, and his previous loss of
blood, that he fell into a swoon at the side of the corpse.
When Smallbones recovered, the candle was flickering in the socket. He
rose up in a sitting posture, and tried to recollect all that had
passed.
The alternating light of the candle flashed upon the body of the old
woman, and he remembered all. After a few minutes, he was able to rise,
and he sat down upon the bed, giddy and faint. It occurred to him that
he would soon be in the dark, and he would require the light to follow
up his intended movements; so he rose, and went to the cupboard to find
one. He found a candle, and he also found the bottle of cordial, of
which he drank all that was left, and felt himself revived, and capable
of acting. Having put the other candle into the candlestick, he looked
for water, washed himself, and bound up his head with his handkerchief.
He then wiped up the blood from the floor, threw some sand over the
part, and burnt the towel in the grate. His next task was one of more
difficulty, to lift up the body of the old woman, put it into the bed,
and cover it up with the clothes, previously drawing out the bayonet.
No blood issued from the wound--the haemorrhage was all internal. He
covered up the face, took the key of the door, and tried it in the lock,
put the candle under the grate to burn out safely, took possession of
the hammer; then having examined the door, he went out, locked it from
the outside, slid the key in beneath the door, and hastened away as fast
as he could. He was not met by any body, and was soon safe in the
street, with the bayonet, which he again concealed in his vest.
These precautions taken by Smallbones proved that the lad had conduct as
well as courage. He argued that it was not advisable that it should be
known that this fatal affray had taken place between the old woman and
himself. Satisfied with having preserved his life, he was unwilling to
be embroiled in a case of murder, as he wished to prosecute his designs
with his companions on board.
He knew that Vanslyperken was capable of swearing anything against him,
and that his best safety lay in the affair not being found out, which it
could not be until the cutter had sailed, and no one had seen him either
enter or go out. There was another reason which induced Smallbones to
act as he did--without appealing to the authorities--which was, that if
he returned on board, it would create such a shock to Mr Vanslyperken,
who had, as he supposed, seen him lying dead upon the floor. But there
was one person to whom he determined to apply to for advice before he
decided how to proceed, and that was Moggy Salisbury, who had given her
address to him when she had gone on board the Yungfrau. To her house he
therefore repaired, and found her at home. It was then about nine
o'clock in the evening.
Moggy was much surprised to see Smallbones enter in such a condition;
but Smallbones' story was soon told, and Moggy sent for a surgeon, the
services of whom the lad seriously required. While his wound was
dressing, which was asserted by them to have been received in a fray,
Moggy considered what would be the best method to proceed. The surgeon
stated his intention of seeing Smallbones the next day, but he was
requested to leave him sufficient dressing, as it was necessary that he
should repair on board, as the vessel which he belonged to sailed on the
following morning. The surgeon received his fee, recommended quiet and
repose, and retired.
A consultation then took place. Smallbones expressed his determination
to go on board; he did not fear Mr Vanslyperken, as the crew of the
cutter would support him--and, moreover, it would frighten Mr
Vanslyperken out of his wits. To this Moggy agreed, but she proposed
that, instead of making his appearance on the following morning, he
should not appear to Mr Vanslyperken until the vessel was in the blue
water; if possible, not till she was over on the other side. And Moggy
determined to go on board, see the corporal, and make the arrangements
with him and the crew, who were now unanimous, for the six marines were
at the beck of the corporal, so that Mr Vanslyperken should be
frightened out of his wits. Desiring Smallbones to lie down on her bed,
and take the rest he so much needed, she put on her bonnet and cloak,
and taking a boat, pulled gently alongside the cutter.
Vanslyperken had been on board for two hours, and was in his cabin; the
lights, however, were still burning. The corporal was still up,
anxiously waiting for the return of Smallbones, and he was very much
alarmed when he heard Moggy come alongside. Moggy soon detailed to the
corporal, Dick Short, and Coble, all that had taken place, and what it
was proposed should be done. They assented willingly to the proposal,
declaring that if Vanslyperken attempted to hurt the lad, they would
rise, and throw Mr Vanslyperken overboard; and everything being
arranged, Moggy was about to depart, when Vanslyperken, who was in a
state of miserable anxiety and torture, and who had been drowning his
conscience in scheedam, came on deck not a little the worse for what he
had been imbibing.
"Who is that woman?" cried Vanslyperken.
"That woman is Moggy Salisbury," cried Moggy, walking up to
Vanslyperken, while the corporal skulked forward without being detected.
"Have I not given positive orders that this woman does not come on
board?" cried Vanslyperken, holding on by the skylight. "Who is that--
Mr Short?"
"Yes," replied Short.
"Why did you allow her to come on board?"
"I came without leave," said Moggy. "I brought a message on board."
"A message! what message--to whom?"
"To you," replied Moggy.
"To me!--from whom, you cockatrice?"
"I'll tell you," replied Moggy, walking close up to him; "from Lazarus
the Jew. Will you hear it, or shall I leave it with Dick Short?"
"Silence--silence--not a word; come down into the cabin, good Moggy.
Come down--I'll hear it then."
"With all my heart, Mr Vanslyperken, but none of your attacks on my
vartue; recollect I am an honest woman."
"Don't be afraid, my good Moggy--I never hurt a child."
"I don't think you ever did," retorted Moggy, following Vanslyperken,
who could hardly keep his feet.
"Well, there's Abacadabra there, any how," observed Coble to Short, as
they went down.
"Why, she turns him round her finger."
"Yes," quoth Short.
"I can't comprehend this, not no how."
"No," quoth Short.
As soon as they were in the cabin, Moggy observed the bottle of scheedam
on the table. "Come, Mr Vanslyperken, you'll treat me to-night, and
drink my health again, won't you?"
"Yes, Moggy, yes--we're friends now, you know;" for Vanslyperken, like
all others suffering under the stings of conscience, was glad to make
friends with his bitterest enemy.
"Come, then, help me, Mr Vanslyperken, and then I'll give my message."
As soon as Moggy had taken her glass of scheedam, she began to think
what she should say, for she had no message ready prepared; at last a
thought struck her.
"I am desired to tell you, that when a passenger, or a person disguised
as a sailor, either asks for a passage, or volunteers for the vessel,
you are to take him on board immediately, even if you should know them
in their disguise not to be what they pretend to be--do you understand?"
"Yes," replied Vanslyperken, who was quite muddled.
"Whether they apply from here, or from the other side of the Channel, no
consequence, you must take them--if not--"
"If not, what?" replied Vanslyperken.
"You'll swing, that's all, my buck. Good night to you," replied Moggy,
leaving the cabin.
"I'll swing," muttered Vanslyperken, rolling against the bulkhead.
"Well, if I do, others shall swing too. Who cares? damn the faggot!"
Here Mr Vanslyperken poured out another glass of scheedam, the contents
of which overthrew the small remnant of his reasoning faculties. He
then tumbled into his bed with his clothes on, saying, as he turned on
his side, "Smallbones is dead and gone, at all events."
Moggy took leave of her friends on deck, and pushed on shore. She
permitted Smallbones, whom she found fast asleep, to remain undisturbed
until nearly three o'clock in the morning, during which time she watched
by the bed-side. She then roused him, and they sallied forth, took a
boat, and dropped alongside of the cutter. Smallbones' hammock had been
prepared for him by the corporal. He was put into it, and Moggy then
left the vessel.
Mr Vanslyperken was in a state of torpor during this proceeding, and
was, with great difficulty, awoke by the corporal, according to orders
given, when it was daylight, and the cutter was to weigh anchor.
"Smallbones has not come off, sir, last night," reported the corporal.
"I suppose the scoundrel has deserted," replied Vanslyperken--"I fully
expected that he would. However, he is no loss, for he was a useless,
idle, lying rascal." And Mr Vanslyperken turned out; having all his
clothes on, he had no occasion to dress. He went on deck, followed by
the tail-less Snarleyyow, and in half an hour the cutter was standing
out towards St. Helen's.