I fancy this has been kept from you; and, if so, a descent upon Harwich may be used to furnish you with a provision for your old age.

Still, there is a present danger that you may be declared a traitor, and your goods confiscate, which would spoil all.

This (since naught has been proved against you, and the aim of your journey not known) you may avert by keeping your eyes open at Dunquerque, and writing a report of it to Wm.

Such a report, aptly drawn, may not only check Portland, but justify me, as knowing your intent from the start, and that it was a move for Wm's, good .-- M.
On reading this Captain Salt cursed several times; and paced the deck in meditation for a whole afternoon.

Then an idea struck him.
During the week that followed he made excellent progress in the affections of the officers of _L'Heureuse_.