Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/236

 when Neirinks brought word, that the guide would be in attendance the following day. Since my return, I passed the evenings with his family, entertaining his old mother with various tales, having, by this time, with the aid of my fair friends, acquired sufficient knowledge of the Flemish language, to make myself understood; the old lady could only speak her native tongue. From the account her daughter had given of our adventures, she evidently felt pleased with my attention. I have already mentioned the agreement I had made with Moitier; but, on his return from Flushing, he declared that Peter, from the imminent risk he had run in his late trip, would not undertake to carry us across the channel, under £80; that he, Moitier, had calculated on paying him only £40: Peter was to receive one-half on landing in England, and a note of hand was to be left with Moitier, for the other. The £80 were paid; but, I have since learned from Neirinks, that this story was a fabrication of Moitier's, who pocketed the additional £40. The hour