第92章

"I don't understand you, Herr major," exclaimed Penurot with a visible effort."I know nothing whatever about this paper.I am an honest business man.""And of course, Herr Brandelaar, you had no suspicion of the important stuffing in your white bread? Now, I am not called upon to investigate the matter further.It will be for the court-martial to throw light on the affair."

The grocer turned as pale as death, and lifted up his hands imploringly.

"Mercy, Herr major, mercy! As true as I live, I am innocent."Heideck pretended not to have heard his assertion.

"Further, I must tell you, gentlemen, that you are confoundedly bad men of business, to risk your lives for a miserable thirty pounds.

That was an inexcusable folly.If ever you wanted to make money in that way, really you would have done better to work for us.We would pay a man five times as much without haggling, if he would furnish us with really trustworthy information of this kind about the English fleet and army."At these words, spoken almost in a jovial tone, a gleam of hope showed itself in the countenance of the two men.The grocer had opened his mouth to reply, when Heideck signed to him to be silent.

"Be so good as to go on deck for a while, Penurot," said he."Iwill call you when I want to continue the conversation.You shall give me your company first, Brandelaar.I should like a few words with you in private."The man with the fashionably pointed beard obeyed.Then Heideck turned to the Dutchman--"This Penurot is the guilty party, isn't he? As a skipper you have probably never troubled yourself much about politics during your lifetime: you scarcely had a correct idea of the risk you were running.If the court-martial condemns you, you will only have your friend Penurot to thank for it.""What you say is quite true, sir," replied Brandelaar with well-acted simplicity."I have my cargo to sell for the firm of Van Spranekhuizen, and I don't care a damn for war or spying.I beg the Herr major to put in a good word for me.I had no suspicion of what was inside the bread.""So this Penurot has drawn you into the affair without your knowing it.Did he intend to go with you to Antwerp?""I will tell you the whole truth, Herr major! Admiral Hollway at Dover, who is in control of the intelligence department for the Channel and the coast from Cuxhaven to Brest, gave me the two loaves for Camille Penurot.That is all I know of the matter.""Was it the first time you had to carry out such commissions for Admiral Hollway?""So help me God, the first time!"

"But Penurot was not meant to keep these peculiar loaves for himself? He, like yourself, is only an agent? If you want me to speak for you, you must tell me unreservedly everything you know about it.""Penurot has a business friend in Antwerp, as the Herr major has rightly guessed.""His name?"

"Eberhard Amelungen."

"What is he?"

"A wholesale merchant.My cargo is intended for him.""And how is he connected with Penurot?"

"I don't know.Penurot is an agent who does all kinds of business.""Oh! and what does the owner, Mynheer van Spranekhuizen, say to your having anything to do with such things as the conveyance of these loaves?""Mynheer van Spranekhuizen and Mynheer Amelungen are near relations.""In other words, these two gentlemen have agreed to send the Bressay from the Shetlands to Dover, and from Dover to Antwerp.""I know nothing about that, Herr major.I have told you everything I know.No vessel can go further up the Schelde than Ternenzen, and I can unload at Breskens just as well as at Ternenzen and send the goods by rail to Antwerp.""Now, Brandelaar, go upstairs again and send M.Penurot down to me."With heavy tread the skipper mounted the narrow ladder, and almost at once Penurot entered.Heideck, with a wave of his hand, invited him to sit down opposite and began to speak.

"From what I have seen of Brandelaar I am convinced that he is an arrant rascal.It was very imprudent on your part to have anything to do with a man like that.If you are brought before a court-martial, you have him to thank for it."

"For God's sake, Herr major--my life isn't in danger? I implore you, have pity on me!""It will matter little whether personally I have pity on you.You will go with me to the Gefion and be brought before a court-martial at Flushing.The fact that you have been Brandelaar's accomplice cannot be got rid of.He has just now declared definitely that the two loaves were intended for you.""For me? That is a vile lie.I have never received a penny from the English.""Well--but, without special reasons, a man doesn't amuse himself by paying a visit to a herring-smack at night.The cargo could have been delivered to Herr Eberhard Amelungen without your inspection.""Eberhard Amelungen?"