"In my riligion I have no superstition. I swallow it whole—even w'en I mus' shut my nose—I mean hol' my eyes. W'at is de matter wid me? I cannot talk straight to-night. Mais to speak of de river, I mus' confess to you dat even w'en it is midsummer an' she masquerade like common dirty waters, I propitiate her.
"Once, I can tell you, I was rowing one skiff across by de red church, an' suddenly—for w'y I di' n' see immediately—mais out of de still water, mixed into bubbles only by my oars, over my hand came one big wave. I looked quick, but I could see only de sun to blind my eyes. Mais you know w'at I did?
"Dat bright sun, it reflect a small stone in my ring, one diamond, an' quick I slip it off an' drop it. It was de river's petition, an' w'at is a sixty-five-dollar diamond to a man w'en—"
"Dey ain' got no insanity in yo' family, I don't t'ink, Felix? Otherwise—excuse me—I would be oneasy for you."
Adolphe was smiling, and he mischievously lifted one brow and drew up his lips as if to whistle.
Felix smiled, too, as he replied:
"You needn't fear for me, Adolphe. Mais strong-headed ancestors, dey are not'ing. Me, I could start a crazy line just as well as my great-gran'fodder. Everyt'ing mus' begin somewhere."
But he added more seriously:
"Non, I would do it again—if I was on such a trip. I tell you w'at time it was; it was—"
He dropped his voice and looked over his shoulder.