“My father walked away, but I followed him. I felt strangely moved.
“The captain, a tall, thin man, with blond whiskers, was walking along the bridge with an important air as if he were commanding the Indian mail steamer.
“My father addressed him ceremoniously, and questioned him about his profession, adding many compliments:
“'What might be the importance of Jersey? What did it produce? What was the population? The customs? The nature of the soil?' etc., etc.
“'You have there an old shell opener who seems quite interesting. Do you know anything about him?'
“The captain, whom this conversation began to weary, answered dryly:
“'He is some old French tramp whom I found last year in America, and I brought him back. It seems that he has some relatives in Havre, but that he doesn't wish to return to them because he owes them money. His name is Jules—Jules Darmanche or Darvanche or something like that. It seems that he was once rich over there, but you can see what's left of him now.'
“My father turned ashy pale and muttered, his throat contracted, his eyes haggard.
“'Ah! ah! very well, very well. I'm not in the least surprised. Thank you very much, captain.'
“He went away, and the astonished sailor watched him disappear. He returned to my mother so upset that she said to him: