Picaut quivered at the sound of that voice; he had not yet seen his enemy, and was not aware that he was on board the vessel. He made one step forward to convince himself.
"Courtin!" he cried, "the mayor of La Logerie! Captain, if that man knows our secret, we are lost!"
"Who is he, then?" demanded the captain.
"A traitor, a spy, a sneak!"
"The devil he is!" cried the captain. "You needn't tell it me fifty times before I believe it; for there's something sly and false in the fellow's face which doesn't a bit suit me."
"Ha!" continued Joseph Picaut, "you are not mistaken. He's the damnedest cur and lowest scum in the whole Retz district!"
"What have you got to say to that, come now?" said the captain to Courtin.
"He can't say anything; I defy him!" continued Picaut.
Courtin was silent.
"Well, well, I see I shall have to take strong measures to make you speak, my fine fellow!" said the captain, who, thereupon, pulled from his bosom a little silver whistle hanging to a silver chain, and produced therefrom a prolonged and piercing sound. At the signal two sailors entered the cabin.