"Then I may retire?"
"Nothing prevents you."
The stranger bowed, and went away.
Montbarts opened the letter, hurriedly perused it, and turned pale. Then he re-read it; but this time slowly, and as if he wished to dwell on each sentence.
A moment later he seemed to form a resolution, and turned to his engagé, who was standing a few paces from him.
"Come here," he said to him.
"Here I am," said the other.
"You are a sailor?"
"A 1, I fancy."
"That is well. Follow me."