"O, I wish you would be on your guard!" said Mimi, in real distress. "It makes me feel very anxious."
She threw at Claude a glance so full of tender interest and pathetic appeal, that Claude's playful mood gave way to one of a more sentimental character; and it is quite impossible to tell what he would have done or said had not Cazeneau again made his appearance, on his way back to the forecastle.
He smiled a cold smile as he passed them.
"Charming weather for a tête-à-tête, mademoiselle," said he. "Parbleu! Monsieur Motier, I don't wonder you don't make your vessel go faster. I quite envy you; but at present I must see about my fellows below here."
With these words he turned away, and descended into the forecastle. Mimi also turned away, and Claude accompanied her to the stern.
"How old do you suppose he is?" asked Claude, very gravely.
"How old? What a funny question! Why, he must be nearly fifty by this time."
"Fifty!" exclaimed Claude, in surprise.
"Yes."
"Why, I thought he was about thirty, or thirty-five."