lubin, you are an honest man; but you will not be offended if I
write to Lethierry to acquaint him with this matter; and we have here in
the boat a sailor from Guernsey, who is one of the crew of the
_Tamaulipas_; his name is Ahier-Tostevin, and he will return to St. Malo
on Zuela's next voyage, to bear testimony to the fact of my having
returned to you, on Mess Lethierry's account, the sum of three thousand
pounds sterling."

It was Rantaine's voice.

Clubin rarely did things by halves. Motionless as the coast-guardman had
been, and in the exact same place, his eye still at the telescope, he
did not lose sight of the boat for one moment. He saw it growing less
amidst the waves; watched it disappear and reappear, and approach the
vessel, which was lying-to; finally he recognised the tall figure of
Rantaine on the deck of the _Tamaulipas_.

When the boat was raised, and slung again to the davits, the
_Tamaulipas_ was in motion once more. The land-breeze was fresh, and she
spread all her sails. Clubin's glass continued fixed upon her outline
growing more and more indistinct; until half an hour later, when the
_Tamaulipas_ had become only a dark shape upon the horizon, growing
smaller and smaller against the pale twilight in the sky.

IX

USEFUL INFORMATION FOR PERSONS WHO EXPECT OR FEAR THE ARRIVAL OF LETTERS
FROM BEYOND SEA

On that evening, Sieur Clubin returned late.

One of the causes of his delay was, that before going to his inn, he had
paid a visit to the Dinan gate of the town, a place where there were
several wine-shops. In one of these wine-shops, where he was not known,
he had bought a bottle of brandy, which he placed in the pocket of his
overcoat, as if he desired to conceal it. Then, as the Durande was to
start on the following morning, he had taken a turn aboard to satisfy
himself that everything was in order.

When Sieur Clubin returned to the Jean Auberge, there was no one left in
the lower room except the old sea-captain, M. Gertrais-Gaboureau, who
was drinking a jug of ale and smoking his pipe.

M. Gertrais-Gaboureau saluted Sieur Clubin between a whiff and a draught
of ale.

"How d'ye do, Captain Clubin?"

"Good evening, Captain Gertrais."

"Well, the _Tamaulipas_ is gone."

"Ah!" said Clubin, "I did not observe."

Captain Gertrais-Gaboureau expectorated, and said:

"Zuela has decamped."

"When was that?"

"This evening."

"Where is he gone?"

"To the devil."

"No d