"No one knows how you live. You are vagabondising on the water; you have the reputation of a bad fellow; you dwell with us, and who will believe that you are ignorant of our thefts and receivings?"
"I will prove the contrary."
"We will accuse you as our accomplice."
"Accuse me! And why?"
"To pay you off for staying amongst us against our will."
"Just now you tried to make me frightened in one way, now you are trying another tack. But it won't do. I will prove that I never robbed. I remain."
"Ah! You remain? Listen then, again! Do you remember last year a person who passed the Christmas night here?"
"Christmas night?" said Martial, trying to recall his memory.
"Try and remember,—try!"
"I do not recollect."