He, for sole answer, put his hand in his pocket and jingled together a number of pieces of silver.
"You took all that from him?" cried Calabash.
"No, he shelled out himself two hundred francs, and he will come down with eight hundred more when I shall have—but enough; let us unload the boat; we can jaw afterward. Isn't Martial here?"
"No," said the sister.
"So much the better; we will lock up the booty without him; just as well he shouldn't know."
"You are afraid of him, coward!" said Calabash, crossly.
"Afraid of him? me!" He shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid he'll sell us, that's all. As to the fear, my sticker has too sharp a tongue."
"Oh, when he is not here, you brag; let him but come, that shuts your bill."
Nicholas appeared insensible to this reproach, and said, "Come, quick! quick! to the boat. Where is Francois, mother? He could help us."
"Mother has shut him upstairs, after having dressed him nicely; he goes to bed without supper," said Calabash.