puede faltar, la hermana no."

"Todo dicho esta. Abour, hombres."

"Buenas tardes. Un golpe de aquardiente?"

"Gracias."

"Es mejor que xarope."

"Tengo vuestra palabra."

"Mi nombre es Pundonor."

"Sea usted con Dios."

"Ereis gentleman, y soy caballero."

* * * * *

"Man with his gold does what he can. Heaven with its winds does what it
will."

"The man who is to accompany Blasquito will be here on Friday."

"Good."

"At what hour will Blasquito appear?"

"In the night. We arrive by night; and sail by night. We have a wife who
is called the sea, and a sister called night. The wife betrays
sometimes; but the sister never."

"All is settled, then. Good-night, my men."

"Good-night. A drop of brandy first?"

"Thank you."

"That is better than a syrup."

"I have your word."

"My name is Point-of-Honour."

"Adieu."

"You are a gentleman: I am a caballero."

* * * * *

It was clear that only devils could talk in this way. The children did
not listen long. This time they took to flight in earnest; the French
boy, convinced at last, running even quicker than the others.

On the Tuesday following this Saturday, Sieur Clubin returned to St.
Malo, bringing back the Durande.

The _Tamaulipas_ was still at anchor in the roads.

Sieur Clubin, between the whiffs of his pipe, said to the landlord of
the Jean Auberge:

"Well; and when does the _Tamaulipas_ get under way?"

"The day after to-morrow--Thursday," replied the landlord.

On that evening, Clubin supped at the coast-guard officers' table; and,
contrary to his habit, went out after his supper. The consequence of his
absence was, that he could not attend to the office of the Durande, and
thus lost a little in the matter of freights. This fact was remarked in
a man ordinarily punctual.

It appeared that he had chatted a few moments with his friend the
money-changer.

He returned two hours after Noguette had sounded the Curfew bell. The
Brazilian bell sounds at ten o'clock. It was therefore midnight.

VI

THE JACRESSADE

Forty years ago, St. Malo possessed an alley known by the name of the
"Ruelle Coutanchez." This alley no longer exists, having been removed
for the improvements of the town.

It was a double row of houses, leaning one towards the other, and
leaving between them just room enough for a narrow rivulet, which was
called the street. By stretching t