“Lieutenant!” said the gendarme. “I said nothing about a lieutenant.”
“He must have been a lieutenant,” said Julian, quite determinedly; “the lieutenant always accompanies his captain on an expedition of that kind.”
“Well, perhaps so,” said the Sergeant; “you are a sailor—I am not.”
“Yes, that’s true,” said Julian. “I was mate of a fine brig, and young as I am I have seen a good deal of service. But what became of those Englishmen that got the Vengeance under weigh, and took her out? If she caught fire, they must either have been burnt in her, drowned, or got on shore.”
“Well, mon garçon,” returned the gendarme, “there’s a deal of mystery about those two dare-devils. Some say they were surely drowned, for no man will stay to be burnt that can escape that death by drowning. Neither modes of going out of the world are pleasant,” and the sergeant and his companion got up, having finished their wine. “But some of the country people who were attracted to the top of the cliff by the burning lugger swear they saw two figures on board when she struck, and that they threw themselves out of her; but when daylight came there were no signs of them. Myself and comrade here, when we heard of the affair, traversed all about the coast, but could get no trace of strangers; so I fancy they only threw themselves overboard to be drowned, and the tide washed back their bodies out to sea. By the way,” added the Sergeant, “have you got your papers with you?”
“Oh, yes,” returned Julian, taking out Louis Lebeau’s pocket-book; “here they are, all right.”
“All right—all right,” said the Sergeant, without taking them. “Don’t trouble yourself, but take my advice, and join Captain Pierre Gaudet’s privateer; he’s a lucky man, though he did get his lugger half burnt.
“Bon jour, Dame Moret,” continued the Sergeant. “I shall take a walk across the fields to the old château; good day, and many thanks.”
“You are heartily welcome, Monsieur le Sergeant,” returned the dame. “You know you will always find a bottle of good wine here; so bon jour;” and the gendarmes departed.