The widow was satisfied, and not perceiving the nice distinction, continued.

“Well, then, corporal, as a lad is but a lad, and a dog is but a dog, I have been setting my wits to work about getting the rascally traitor in my power.  I mean to pretend to take every interest in him, and to get all his secrets, and then, when he tells me that Smallbones cannot be hurt by mortal man, I shall say he can by woman, at all events; and then I shall make a proposition, which he’ll accept fast enough, and then I’ll have more hanging matter for him, besides getting rid of the cur.  Yes, yes, Mr Vanslyperken, match a woman if you can.  We’ll see if your dog is to take possession of my bedroom again.”

“Mein Gott! yes,” replied the corporal again.

“And now I’ll tell you what I’ll do, Mr Corporal; I will prepare it myself; and, then, Mr Vanslyperken shall have it grilled for his breakfast, and then he shall not eat it, but leave it for Smallbones, and then Smallbones shall pretend to eat it, but put it in his pocket, and then (for it won’t do to do it on board, or he’ll find out that the lad has given it to the dog) he shall bring it on shore, and give it to the dog here in the yard, so that he shall kill the dog himself, by wishing to kill others.  Do you understand, corporal?”

“Mein Gott! yes, I understand what you say; but what is it that you are to prepare?”

“What? why, a red-herring to be sure.”

“But how will a red-herring kill a body or a dog?”

“Lord, corporal, how stupid you are; I’m to put arsenic in.”

“Yes; but you left that out till now.”

“Did I? well, that was an oversight; but now, corporal, you understand it all?”

“Mein Gott! yes; but if the lad does not die, what will he think?”

“Think! that he can take poison like pea-soup, without injury, and that neither man nor woman can take his life; be afraid of the lad, and leave him alone.”

“Mein Gott! yes,” replied the rather obtuse corporal, who now understood the whole plot.

Such was the snare laid for Mr Vanslyperken by the treacherous widow, and before the cutter sailed, it was put in execution.  She received the lieutenant now as an accepted lover, allowed him to talk of the day, wormed out of him all his secrets except that of his treason, abused Smallbones, and acknowledged that she had been too hasty about the dog, which she would be very happy to see on shore.  Vanslyperken could hardly believe his senses—­the widow forgive Snarleyyow, and all for his sake, he was delighted, enchanted, threw himself at her feet, and vowed eternal gratitude with his lips—­but vengeance in his heart.

Oh!  Mr Vanslyperken, you deserved to be deceived.

The dislike expressed by the widow against Smallbones was also very agreeable to the lieutenant, and he made her his confidant, stating what the corporal had told him relative to the appearance of Smallbones when he was adrift.