"The unfortunate child lay between life and death for two whole days, as I told you."
"And M. Cloarek?"
"Alas! we know nothing about him. On hearing his daughter reproach him for her mother's death, he uttered a loud cry, and rushed out of the room like one demented, and nothing has been seen of him since."
"How unfortunate! Great Heavens, how unfortunate! But how did M. Cloarek hear of this intended attack?"
"It seems this party had made two or three similar descents at different points along the coast; but this attack was unquestionably made in the hope of capturing M. Cloarek, who, under the name of Captain l'Endurci, had inflicted such injury upon the British navy."
The nurse, reëntering the room at that moment, said to Suzanne:
"Madame Roberts, M. Segoffin wishes to speak to you, as well as to M. Onésime, if he feels able to see him."
"Certainly," responded the young man, promptly.
Segoffin entered the room almost immediately. Dame Roberts did not receive him with ironical words and looks, as she had been wont to do, however. On the contrary, she advanced to meet him with affectionate eagerness.
"Well, my dear Segoffin, is your news good or bad?" she exclaimed.