“'I always thought that that thief never would do anything, and that he would drop down on us again! As if one could expect anything from a Davranche!'
“My father passed his hand over his forehead, as he always did when his wife reproached him. She added:
“'Give Joseph some money so that he can pay for the oysters. All that it needed to cap the climax would be to be recognized by that beggar. That would be very pleasant! Let's get down to the other end of the boat, and take care that that man doesn't come near us!'
“They gave me five francs and walked away.
“Astonished, my sisters were awaiting their father. I said that mamma had felt a sudden attack of sea-sickness, and I asked the shell opener:
“'How much do we owe you, monsieur?'
“I felt like laughing: he was my uncle! He answered:
“'Two francs fifty.'
“I held out my five francs and he returned the change. I looked at his hand; it was a poor, wrinkled, sailor's hand, and I looked at his face, an unhappy old face. I said to myself:
“'That is my uncle, the brother of my father, my uncle!'