Snarleyyow by Frederick Marryat

We are somewhat inclined to moralise. We did not intend to write this day. On the contrary, we had arranged for a party of pleasure and relaxation, in which the heels, and every other portion of the body upwards, except the brain, were to be employed, and that was to have a respite. The morning was fair, and we promised ourselves amusement, but we were deceived, and we returned to our task, as the rain poured down in torrents, washing the dirty face of mother earth. Yes, deceived; and here we cannot help observing, that this history of ours is a very true picture of human life -- for what a complication of treachery does it not involve!

Smallbones is deceiving his master, Mr Vanslyperken -- the corporal is deceiving Mr Vanslyperken -- the widow is deceiving Mr Vanslyperken, so is Babette, and the whole crew of the _Yungfrau_. Ramsay is deceiving his host and his mistress. All the Jacobites, in a mass, are plotting against and deceiving the government, and as for Mr Vanslyperken; as it will soon appear, he is deceiving everybody, and will ultimately deceive himself. The only honest party in the whole history is the one most hated, as generally is the case in this world -- I mean Snarleyyow. There is no deceit about him, and therefore, _par excellence_, he is fairly entitled to be the hero of, and to give his name to, the work.