"I took my purse from my pocket, and emptied several gold pieces into the palm of my hand. A hissing sound escaped from between his closed teeth, and his eyes were fixed upon the money greedily, and then upon me ferociously.
"I laughed lightly and disdainfully. I made a motion of my head towards the boat which was moored to a staple in the outer wall of the lighthouse. Two fishermen were in the boat, waiting to row me back to the village.
"'If I do not go to them soon,' I said, 'they will come and seek me.'
"'What do you mean by that?' he asked, with a dark frown on his face.
"'You decline to answer my questions,' I replied, 'and I decline to answer yours. But I can do what you would be unwilling to do.'
"'What is that?'
"'I can pay for information. Ten of these gold pieces are yours, if you tell me truly to whom your daughter is married.'
"'Give me the money.'
"I gave him the gold, and he bit the coins singly with his strong teeth. Then he said, 'She is married to Silvain.'
"'Heaven pity him,' I said, preparing to descend, 'for such a father-in-law.'