“What! my tenderness!” cried Stephanette, indignant.
“It is true we agreed to say nothing about it before this cormorant.”
“Luquin, to your boat!” cried the commander, in an imperious voice.
The worthy captain was compelled to swallow this new insult, and to descend in haste to his boat in order to receive there Mlle. des Anbiez.
Five minutes after the polacre, commanded by Luquin, set sail for Maison-Forte, bearing Reine, Stephanette, and two other young girls so miraculously saved from the fate which threatened them.
When the polacre had departed, the Bohemian approached the commander respectfully, and said:
“Pog-Reis has kept his word, monseigneur.”
“I will keep mine. Go, wait for me in your longboat.”
The Bohemian bowed and left the galley.
Pierre des Anbiez said to the Chevalier de Blinville, who was to command the galley in his absence: