“The box is too small,” said the Lizard, patiently.
Tric-Trac roared. “Listen to him! Listen to the child!” he cried, delighted. “Too small to hold gold enough for you? Very well—but is a ship big enough?”
“A big ship is.”
Tric-Trac wriggled in convulsions of laughter.
“Oh, listen! He wants a big ship! Well—say a 249 ship as big as that ugly, black iron-clad sticking up out of the sea yonder, like a Usine-de-gaz!”
“I think that ship would be big enough,” said the poacher, seriously.
Tric-Trac did not laugh; his little eyes narrowed, and he looked steadily at the poacher.
“Do you mean what I mean?” he asked, deliberately.
“Well,” said the Lizard, “what do you mean?”
“I mean that France is busy stitching on a new flag.”