English
AnyonewhohadquittedMarseillesafewyearspreviously,wellacquaintedwiththeinteriorofMorrel’swarehouse,andhadreturnedatthisdate,wouldhavefoundagreatchange.
Insteadofthatairoflife,ofcomfort,andofhappinessthatpermeatesaflourishingandprosperousbusinessestablishment—insteadofmerryfacesatthewindows,busyclerkshurryingtoandfrointhelongcorridors—insteadofthecourtfilledwithbalesofgoods,re–echoingwiththecriesandthejokesofporters,onewouldhaveimmediatelyperceivedallaspectofsadnessandgloom.
Outofallthenumerousclerksthatusedtofillthedesertedcorridorandtheemptyoffice,buttworemained.
Onewasayoungmanofthreeorfourandtwenty,whowasinlovewithM.Morrel’sdaughter,andhadremainedwithhiminspiteoftheeffortsofhisfriendstoinducehimtowithdraw;theotherwasanoldone–eyedcashier,called“Cocles,”or“Cock–eye,”anicknamegivenhimbytheyoungmenwhousedtothrongthisvastnowalmostdesertedbee–hive,andwhichhadsocompletelyreplacedhisrealnamethathewouldnot,inallprobability,haverepliedtoanyonewhoaddressedhimbyit.
CoclesremainedinM.Morrel’sservice,andamostsingularchangehadtakenplaceinhisposition;hehadatthesametimerisentotherankofcashier,andsunktotherankofaservant.
Hewas,however,thesameCocles,good,patient,devoted,butinflexibleonthesubjectofarithmetic,theonlypointonwhichhewouldhavestoodfirmagainsttheworld,evenagainstM.Morrel;andstronginthemultiplication–table,whichhehadathisfingers’ends,nomatterwhatschemeorwhattrapwaslaidtocatchhim.
Inthemidstofthedisastersthatbefellthehouse,Cocleswastheonlyoneunmoved.
Butthisdidnotarisefromawantofaffection;onthecontrary,fromafirmconviction.
Liketheratsthatonebyoneforsakethedoomedshipevenbeforethevesselweighsanchor,soallthenumerousclerkshadbydegreesdesertedtheofficeandthewarehouse.
Cocleshadseenthemgowithoutthinkingofinquiringthecauseoftheirdeparture.
Everythingwasaswehavesaid,aquestionofarithmetictoCocles,andduringtwentyyearshehadalwaysseenallpaymentsmadewithsuchexactitude,thatitseemedasimpossibletohimthatthehouseshouldstoppayment,asitwouldtoamillerthattheriverthathadsolongturnedhismillshouldceasetoflow.
NothinghadasyetoccurredtoshakeCocles’belief;thelastmonth’spaymenthadbeenmadewiththemostscrupulousexactitude;Cocleshaddetectedanoverbalanceoffourteensousinhiscash,andthesameeveninghehadbroughtthemtoM.Morrel,who,withamelancholysmile,threwthemintoanalmostemptydrawer,saying:—
“Thanks,Cocles;youarethepearlofcashiers.”
Cocleswentawayperfectlyhappy,forthiseulogiumofM.Morrel,himselfthepearlofthehonestmenofMarseilles,flatteredhimmorethanapresentoffiftycrowns.
ButsincetheendofthemonthM.Morrelhadpassedmanyananxioushour.
Inordertomeetthepaymentsthendue;hehadcollectedallhisresources,and,fearinglestthereportofhisdistressshouldgetbruitedabroadatMarseilleswhenhewasknowntobereducedtosuchanextremity,hewenttotheBeaucairefairtosellhiswife’sanddaughter’sjewelsandaportionofhisplate.
Bythismeanstheendofthemonthwaspassed,buthisresourceswerenowexhausted.
Credit,owingtothereportsafloat,wasnolongertobehad;andtomeettheonehundredthousandfrancsdueonthe10thofthepresentmonth,andtheonehundredthousandfrancsdueonthe15thofthenextmonthtoM.deBoville,M.Morrelhad,inreality,nohopebutthereturnofthePharaon,ofwhosedeparturehehadlearntfromavesselwhichhadweighedanchoratthesametime,andwhichhadalreadyarrivedinharbor.
Butthisvesselwhich,likethePharaon,camefromCalcutta,hadbeeninforafortnight,whilenointelligencehadbeenreceivedofthePharaon.
Suchwasthestateofaffairswhen,thedayafterhisinterviewwithM.deBoville,theconfidentialclerkofthehouseofThomson&FrenchofRome,presentedhimselfatM.Morrel’s.
Emmanuelreceivedhim;thisyoungmanwasalarmedbytheappearanceofeverynewface,foreverynewfacemightbethatofanewcreditor,comeinanxietytoquestiontheheadofthehouse.
Theyoungman,wishingtosparehisemployerthepainofthisinterview,questionedthenew–comer;butthestrangerdeclaredthathehadnothingtosaytoM.Emmanuel,andthathisbusinesswaswithM.Morrelinperson.Emmanuelsighed,andsummonedCocles.
Coclesappeared,andtheyoungmanbadehimconductthestrangertoM.Morrel’sapartment.
Cocleswentfirst,andthestrangerfollowedhim.
Onthestaircasetheymetabeautifulgirlofsixteenorseventeen,wholookedwithanxietyatthestranger.
“M.Morrelisinhisroom,ishenot,MademoiselleJulie?”saidthecashier.
“Yes;Ithinkso,atleast,”saidtheyounggirlhesitatingly.“Goandsee,Cocles,andifmyfatheristhere,announcethisgentleman.”
“Itwillbeuselesstoannounceme,mademoiselle,”returnedtheEnglishman.
“M.Morreldoesnotknowmyname;thisworthygentlemanhasonlytoannouncetheconfidentialclerkofthehouseofThomson&FrenchofRome,withwhomyourfatherdoesbusiness.”
Theyounggirlturnedpaleandcontinuedtodescend,whilethestrangerandCoclescontinuedtomountthestaircase.
SheenteredtheofficewhereEmmanuelwas,whileCocles,bytheaidofakeyhepossessed,openedadoorinthecornerofalanding–placeonthesecondstaircase,conductedthestrangerintoanante–chamber,openedaseconddoor,whichheclosedbehindhim,andafterhavinglefttheclerkofthehouseofThomson&Frenchalone,returnedandsignedtohimthathecouldenter.
TheEnglishmanentered,andfoundMorrelseatedatatable,turningovertheformidablecolumnsofhisledger,whichcontainedthelistofhisliabilities.
Atthesightofthestranger,M.Morrelclosedtheledger,arose,andofferedaseattothestranger;andwhenhehadseenhimseated,resumedhisownchair.
Fourteenyearshadchangedtheworthymerchant,who,inhisthirty–sixthyearattheopeningofthishistory,wasnowinhisfiftieth;hishairhadturnedwhite,timeandsorrowhadplougheddeepfurrowsonhisbrow,andhislook,oncesofirmandpenetrating,wasnowirresoluteandwandering,asifhefearedbeingforcedtofixhisattentiononsomeparticularthoughtorperson.
TheEnglishmanlookedathimwithanairofcuriosity,evidentlymingledwithinterest.
“Monsieur,”saidMorrel,whoseuneasinesswasincreasedbythisexamination,“youwishtospeaktome?”
“Yes,monsieur;youareawarefromwhomIcome?”
“ThehouseofThomson&French;atleast,somycashiertellsme.”
“Hehastoldyourightly.ThehouseofThomson&Frenchhad300,000or400,000francstopaythismonthinFrance;and,knowingyourstrictpunctuality,havecollectedallthebillsbearingyoursignature,andchargedmeastheybecameduetopresentthem,andtoemploythemoneyotherwise.”
Morrelsigheddeeply,andpassedhishandoverhisforehead,whichwascoveredwithperspiration.
“Sothen,sir,”saidMorrel,“youholdbillsofmine?”
“Yes,andforaconsiderablesum.”
“Whatistheamount?”askedMorrelwithavoicehestrovetorenderfirm.
“Hereis,”saidtheEnglishman,takingaquantityofpapersfromhispocket,“anassignmentof200,000francstoourhousebyM.deBoville,theinspectorofprisons,towhomtheyaredue.
Youacknowledge,ofcourse,thatyouowethissumtohim?”
“Yes;heplacedthemoneyinmyhandsatfourandahalfpercentnearlyfiveyearsago.”
“Whenareyoutopay?”
“Halfthe15thofthismonth,halfthe15thofnext.”
“Justso;andnowhereare32,500francspayableshortly;theyareallsignedbyyou,andassignedtoourhousebytheholders.”
“Irecognizethem,”saidMorrel,whosefacewassuffused,ashethoughtthat,forthefirsttimeinhislife,hewouldbeunabletohonorhisownsignature.“Isthisall?”
“No,IhavefortheendofthemonththesebillswhichhavebeenassignedtousbythehouseofPascal,andthehouseofWild&TurnerofMarseilles,amountingtonearly55,000.francs;inall,287,500francs.”
ItisimpossibletodescribewhatMorrelsufferedduringthisenumeration.
“Twohundredandeighty–seventhousandfivehundredfrancs,”repeatedhe.
“Yes,sir,”repliedtheEnglishman.“Iwillnot,”continuedhe,afteramoment’ssilence,“concealfromyou,thatwhileyourprobityandexactitudeuptothismomentareuniversallyacknowledged,yetthereportiscurrentinMarseillesthatyouarenotabletomeetyourliabilities.”
AtthisalmostbrutalspeechMorrelturneddeathlypale.
“Sir,”saidhe,“uptothistime—anditisnowmorethanfour–and–twentyyearssinceIreceivedthedirectionofthishousefrommyfather,whohadhimselfconducteditforfiveandthirtyyears—neverhasanythingbearingthesignatureofMorrel&Sonbeendishonored.”
“Iknowthat,”repliedtheEnglishman.“Butasamanofhonorshouldansweranother,tellmefairly,shallyoupaythesewiththesamepunctuality?”
Morrelshuddered,andlookedattheman,whospokewithmoreassurancethanhehadhithertoshown.
“Toquestionsfranklyput,”saidhe,“astraightforwardanswershouldbegiven.
Yes,Ishallpay,if,asIhope,myvesselarrivessafely;foritsarrivalwillagainprocuremethecreditwhichthenumerousaccidents,ofwhichIhavebeenthevictim,havedeprivedme;butifthePharaonshouldbelost,andthislastresourcebegone”—thepoorman’seyesfilledwithtears.
“Well,”saidtheother,“ifthislastresourcefailyou?”
“Well,”returnedMorrel,“itisacruelthingtobeforcedtosay,but,alreadyusedtomisfortune,Imusthabituatemyselftoshame.IfearIshallbeforcedtosuspendpayment.”
“Haveyounofriendswhocouldassistyou?”Morrelsmiledmournfully.“Inbusiness,sir,”saidhe,“onehasnofriends,onlycorrespondents.”
“Itistrue,”murmuredtheEnglishman;“thenyouhavebutonehope.”
“Butone.”
“Thelast?”
“Thelast.”
“Sothatifthisfail”—
“Iamruined,—completelyruined!”
“AsIwasonmywayhere,avesselwascomingintoport.”
“Iknowit,sir;ayoungman,whostilladherestomyfallenfortunes,passesapartofhistimeinabelvidereatthetopofthehouse,inhopesofbeingthefirsttoannouncegoodnewstome;hehasinformedmeofthearrivalofthisship.”
“Anditisnotyours?”
“No,sheisaBordeauxvessel,LaGironde;shecomesfromIndiaalso;butsheisnotmine.”
“PerhapsshehasspokenthePharaon,andbringsyousometidingsofher?”
“ShallItellyouplainlyonething,sir?
Idreadalmostasmuchtoreceiveanytidingsofmyvesselastoremainindoubt.Uncertaintyisstillhope.”
TheninalowvoiceMorreladded,—”Thisdelayisnotnatural.
ThePharaonleftCalcuttathe5thFebruary;sheoughttohavebeenhereamonthago.”
“Whatisthat?”saidtheEnglishman.“Whatisthemeaningofthatnoise?”
“Oh,oh!”criedMorrel,turningpale,“whatisit?”
Aloudnoisewasheardonthestairsofpeoplemovinghastily,andhalf–stifledsobs.
Morrelroseandadvancedtothedoor;buthisstrengthfailedhimandhesankintoachair.
Thetwomenremainedoppositeoneanother,Morreltremblingineverylimb,thestrangergazingathimwithanairofprofoundpity.
Thenoisehadceased;butitseemedthatMorrelexpectedsomething—somethinghadoccasionedthenoise,andsomethingmustfollow.
Thestrangerfanciedheheardfootstepsonthestairs;andthatthefootsteps,whichwerethoseofseveralpersons,stoppedatthedoor.
Akeywasinsertedinthelockofthefirstdoor,andthecreakingofhingeswasaudible.
“Thereareonlytwopersonswhohavethekeytothatdoor,”murmuredMorrel,“CoclesandJulie.”
Atthisinstanttheseconddooropened,andtheyounggirl,hereyesbathedwithtears,appeared.
Morrelrosetremblingly,supportinghimselfbythearmofthechair.
Hewouldhavespoken,buthisvoicefailedhim.“Oh,father!”
saidshe,claspingherhands,“forgiveyourchildforbeingthebearerofeviltidings.”
Morrelagainchangedcolor.Juliethrewherselfintohisarms.
“Oh,father,father!”murmuredshe,“courage!”
“ThePharaonhasgonedown,then?”saidMorrelinahoarsevoice.Theyounggirldidnotspeak;butshemadeanaffirmativesignwithherheadasshelayonherfather’sbreast.
“Andthecrew?”askedMorrel.
“Saved,”saidthegirl;“savedbythecrewofthevesselthathasjustenteredtheharbor.”
Morrelraisedhistwohandstoheavenwithanexpressionofresignationandsublimegratitude.
“Thanks,myGod,”saidhe,“atleastthoustrikestbutmealone.”
AtearmoistenedtheeyeofthephlegmaticEnglishman.
“Comein,comein,”saidMorrel,“forIpresumeyouareallatthedoor.”
ScarcelyhadheutteredthosewordsthanMadameMorrelenteredweepingbitterly.
Emmanuelfollowedher,andintheantechamberwerevisibletheroughfacesofsevenoreighthalf–nakedsailors.
AtthesightofthesementheEnglishmanstartedandadvancedastep;thenrestrainedhimself,andretiredintothefarthestandmostobscurecorneroftheapartment.
MadameMorrelsatdownbyherhusbandandtookoneofhishandsinhers,Juliestilllaywithherheadonhisshoulder,EmmanuelstoodinthecentreofthechamberandseemedtoformthelinkbetweenMorrel’sfamilyandthesailorsatthedoor.
“Howdidthishappen?”saidMorrel.
“Drawnearer,Penelon,”saidtheyoungman,“andtellusallaboutit.”
Anoldseaman,bronzedbythetropicalsun,advanced,twirlingtheremainsofatarpaulinbetweenhishands.
“Good–day,M.Morrel,”saidhe,asifhehadjustquittedMarseillesthepreviousevening,andhadjustreturnedfromAixorToulon.
“Good–day,Penelon,”returnedMorrel,whocouldnotrefrainfromsmilingthroughhistears,“whereisthecaptain?”
“Thecaptain,M.Morrel,—hehasstayedbehindsickatPalma;butpleaseGod,itwon’tbemuch,andyouwillseehiminafewdaysallaliveandhearty.”
“Well,nowtellyourstory,Penelon.”
Penelonrolledhisquidinhischeek,placedhishandbeforehismouth,turnedhishead,andsentalongjetoftobacco–juiceintotheantechamber,advancedhisfoot,balancedhimself,andbegan,—”Yousee,M.Morrel,”saidhe,“weweresomewherebetweenCapeBlancandCapeBoyador,sailingwithafairbreeze,south–south–westafteraweek’scalm,whenCaptainGaumardcomesuptome—IwasatthehelmIshouldtellyou—andsays,‘Penelon,whatdoyouthinkofthosecloudscomingupoverthere?’
Iwasjustthenlookingatthemmyself.‘WhatdoIthink,captain?
WhyIthinkthattheyarerisingfasterthantheyhaveanybusinesstodo,andthattheywouldnotbesoblackiftheydidn’tmeanmischief.’
—’That’smyopiniontoo,’saidthecaptain,‘andI’lltakeprecautionsaccordingly.Wearecarryingtoomuchcanvas.Avast,there,allhands!
Takeinthestudding–sl’sandstowtheflyingjib.’
Itwastime;thesquallwasonus,andthevesselbegantoheel.
‘Ah,’saidthecaptain,‘wehavestilltoomuchcanvasset;allhandslowerthemains’l!’
Fiveminutesafter,itwasdown;andwesailedundermizzen–tops’lsandto’gall’ntsails.
‘Well,Penelon,’saidthecaptain,‘whatmakesyoushakeyourhead?’
‘Why,’Isays,‘Istillthinkyou’vegottoomuchon.’
‘Ithinkyou’reright,’answeredhe,‘weshallhaveagale.’‘Agale?
Morethanthat,weshallhaveatempest,orIdon’tknowwhat’swhat.’
YoucouldseethewindcominglikethedustatMontredon;luckilythecaptainunderstoodhisbusiness.
‘Takeintworeefsinthetops’ls,’criedthecaptain;‘letgothebowlin’s,haulthebrace,lowertheto’gall’ntsails,hauloutthereef–tacklesontheyards.’”
“Thatwasnotenoughforthoselatitudes,”saidtheEnglishman;“Ishouldhavetakenfourreefsinthetopsailsandfurledthespanker.”
Hisfirm,sonorous,andunexpectedvoicemadeeveryonestart.
Penelonputhishandoverhiseyes,andthenstaredatthemanwhothuscriticizedthemanoeuvresofhiscaptain.
“Wedidbetterthanthat,sir,”saidtheoldsailorrespectfully;“weputthehelmuptorunbeforethetempest;tenminutesafterwestruckourtops’lsandscuddedunderbarepoles.”
“Thevesselwasveryoldtoriskthat,”saidtheEnglishman.
“Eh,itwasthatthatdidthebusiness;afterpitchingheavilyfortwelvehourswesprungaleak.
‘Penelon,’saidthecaptain,‘Ithinkwearesinking,givemethehelm,andgodownintothehold.’
Igavehimthehelm,anddescended;therewasalreadythreefeetofwater.‘Allhandstothepumps!’
Ishouted;butitwastoolate,anditseemedthemorewepumpedthemorecamein.
‘Ah,’saidI,afterfourhours’work,‘sincewearesinking,letussink;wecandiebutonce.’
‘That’stheexampleyouset,Penelon,’criesthecaptain;‘verywell,waitaminute.’
Hewentintohiscabinandcamebackwithabraceofpistols.
‘Iwillblowthebrainsoutofthefirstmanwholeavesthepump,’saidhe.”
“Welldone!”saidtheEnglishman.
“There’snothinggivesyousomuchcourageasgoodreasons,”continuedthesailor;“andduringthattimethewindhadabated,andtheseagonedown,butthewaterkeptrising;notmuch,onlytwoinchesanhour,butstillitrose.
Twoinchesanhourdoesnotseemmuch,butintwelvehoursthatmakestwofeet,andthreewehadbefore,thatmakesfive.
‘Come,’saidthecaptain,‘wehavedoneallinourpower,andM.Morrelwillhavenothingtoreproachuswith,wehavetriedtosavetheship,letusnowsaveourselves.
Totheboats,mylads,asquickasyoucan.’
Now,”continuedPenelon,“yousee,M.Morrel,asailorisattachedtohisship,butstillmoretohislife,sowedidnotwaittobetoldtwice;themoreso,thattheshipwassinkingunderus,andseemedtosay,‘Getalong—saveyourselves.’
Wesoonlaunchedtheboat,andalleightofusgotintoit.
Thecaptaindescendedlast,orrather,hedidnotdescend,hewouldnotquitthevessel;soItookhimroundthewaist,andthrewhimintotheboat,andthenIjumpedafterhim.
Itwastime,forjustasIjumpedthedeckburstwithanoiselikethebroadsideofaman–of–war.
Tenminutesaftershepitchedforward,thentheotherway,spunroundandround,andthengood–bytothePharaon.
Asforus,wewerethreedayswithoutanythingtoeatordrink,sothatwebegantothinkofdrawinglotswhoshouldfeedtherest,whenwesawLaGironde;wemadesignalsofdistress,sheperceivedus,madeforus,andtookusallonboard.
Therenow,M.Morrel,that’sthewholetruth,onthehonorofasailor;isnotittrue,youfellowsthere?”
Ageneralmurmurofapprobationshowedthatthenarratorhadfaithfullydetailedtheirmisfortunesandsufferings.
“Well,well,”saidM.Morrel,“Iknowtherewasnooneinfaultbutdestiny.ItwasthewillofGodthatthisshouldhappen,blessedbehisname.Whatwagesareduetoyou?”
“Oh,don’tletustalkofthat,M.Morrel.”
“Yes,butwewilltalkofit.”
“Well,then,threemonths,”saidPenelon.
“Cocles,paytwohundredfrancstoeachofthesegoodfellows,”saidMorrel.
“Atanothertime,”addedbe,“Ishouldhavesaid,Givethem,besides,twohundredfrancsoverasapresent;buttimesarechanged,andthelittlemoneythatremainstomeisnotmyown.”
Penelonturnedtohiscompanions,andexchangedafewwordswiththem.
“Asforthat,M.Morrel,”saidhe,againturninghisquid,“asforthat”—
“Asforwhat?”
“Themoney.”
“Well”—
“Well,weallsaythatfiftyfrancswillbeenoughforusatpresent,andthatwewillwaitfortherest.”
“Thanks,myfriends,thanks!”criedMorrelgratefully;“takeit—takeit;andifyoucanfindanotheremployer,enterhisservice;youarefreetodoso.”
Theselastwordsproducedaprodigiouseffectontheseaman.
Penelonnearlyswallowedhisquid;fortunatelyherecovered.“What,M.Morrel!”
saidheinalowvoice,“yousendusaway;youarethenangrywithus!”
“No,no,”saidM.Morrel,“Iamnotangry,quitethecontrary,andIdonotsendyouaway;butIhavenomoreships,andthereforeIdonotwantanysailors.”
“Nomoreships!”returnedPenelon;“well,then,you’llbuildsome;we’llwaitforyou.”
“Ihavenomoneytobuildshipswith,Penelon,”saidthepoorownermournfully,“soIcannotacceptyourkindoffer.”
“Nomoremoney?Thenyoumustnotpayus;wecanscud,likethePharaon,underbarepoles.”
“Enough,enough!”criedMorrel,almostoverpowered;“leaveme,Iprayyou;weshallmeetagaininahappiertime.Emmanuel,gowiththem,andseethatmyordersareexecuted.”
“Atleast,weshallseeeachotheragain,M.Morrel?”askedPenelon.
“Yes;Ihopeso,atleast.Nowgo.”
HemadeasigntoCocles,whowentfirst;theseamenfollowedhimandEmmanuelbroughtuptherear.
“Now,”saidtheownertohiswifeanddaughter,“leaveme;Iwishtospeakwiththisgentleman.”
AndheglancedtowardstheclerkofThomson&French,whohadremainedmotionlessinthecornerduringthisscene,inwhichhehadtakennopart,exceptthefewwordswehavementioned.
Thetwowomenlookedatthispersonwhosepresencetheyhadentirelyforgotten,andretired;but,asshelefttheapartment,Juliegavethestrangerasupplicatingglance,towhichherepliedbyasmilethatanindifferentspectatorwouldhavebeensurprisedtoseeonhissternfeatures.Thetwomenwereleftalone.
“Well,sir,”saidMorrel,sinkingintoachair,“youhaveheardall,andIhavenothingfurthertotellyou.”
“Isee,”returnedtheEnglishman,“thatafreshandunmeritedmisfortunehisoverwhelmedyou,andthisonlyincreasesmydesiretoserveyou.”
“Oh,sir!”criedMorrel.
“Letmesee,”continuedthestranger,“Iamoneofyourlargestcreditors.”
“Yourbills,atleast,arethefirstthatwillfalldue.”
“Doyouwishfortimetopay?”
“Adelaywouldsavemyhonor,andconsequentlymylife.”
“Howlongadelaydoyouwishfor?”—Morrelreflected.“Twomonths,”saidhe.
“Iwillgiveyouthree,”repliedthestranger.
“But,”askedMorrel,“willthehouseofThomson&Frenchconsent?”
“Oh,Itakeeverythingonmyself.To–dayisthe5thofJune.”
“Yes.”
“Well,renewthesebillsuptothe5thofSeptember;andonthe5thofSeptemberateleveno’clock(thehandoftheclockpointedtoeleven),Ishallcometoreceivethemoney.”
“Ishallexpectyou,”returnedMorrel;“andIwillpayyou—orIshallbedead.”
Theselastwordswereutteredinsolowatonethatthestrangercouldnothearthem.
Thebillswererenewed,theoldonesdestroyed,andthepoorship–ownerfoundhimselfwiththreemonthsbeforehimtocollecthisresources.
TheEnglishmanreceivedhisthankswiththephlegmpeculiartohisnation;andMorrel,overwhelminghimwithgratefulblessings,conductedhimtothestaircase.
ThestrangermetJulieonthestairs;shepretendedtobedescending,butinrealityshewaswaitingforhim.“Oh,sir”—saidshe,claspingherhands.
“Mademoiselle,”saidthestranger,“onedayyouwillreceivealettersigned‘SinbadtheSailor.’Doexactlywhattheletterbidsyou,howeverstrangeitmayappear.”
“Yes,sir,”returnedJulie.
“Doyoupromise?”
“IsweartoyouIwill.”
“Itiswell.Adieu,mademoiselle.Continuetobethegood,sweetgirlyouareatpresent,andIhavegreathopesthatheavenwillrewardyoubygivingyouEmmanuelforahusband.”
Julieutteredafaintcry,blushedlikearose,andleanedagainstthebaluster.
Thestrangerwavedhishand,andcontinuedtodescend.
InthecourthefoundPenelon,who,witharouleauofahundredfrancsineitherhand,seemedunabletomakeuphismindtoretainthem.
“Comewithme,myfriend,”saidtheEnglishman;“Iwishtospeaktoyou.”
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