He began to laugh too like a child:
“On my word, I had a crown left, but I gave it to the little boy who carried your box.”
“Oh, pooh! what does that matter”! she said snapping her little white fingers like castanets; “one is never gayer than when one has nothing; and haven’t I in reserve the two diamond rings that my mother gave me? those are good anywhere, and for anything, aren’t they? When you wish, we will sell them. Besides, I think that the dear good captain hasn’t told us all his kind intentions towards us, and that he knows quite well what is in the letter. It is surely a recommendation for us to the governor of Cayenne.”
“Perhaps,” he said; “who knows?”
“Isn’t it?” his little wife went on; “you are so good, that I’m sure that the government has exiled you for a little time, but isn’t angry with you.”
She had said that so well! calling me the dear good captain, that I was quite moved and softened by it; and I even rejoiced in my heart, that she had perhaps guessed rightly about the sealed letter. They began again to kiss one another; I stamped sharply on the deck to make them stop.
I shouted to them:
“Hi! come now, my little friends! the order has been given that all lights on this vessel are to be put out. Blow out your light, if you please.”
They blew out the lamp, and I heard them laugh and chatter in whispers in the dark like school-children. I began again to walk up and down alone on my deck, smoking my pipe. All the stars of the tropics were at their posts, as big as little moons. I looked at them, and breathed in air which felt fresh and pleasant.
I said to myself that the good little things had certainly guessed the truth, and I was quite cheered up by this. It was indeed to be wagered that one of the five Directors had changed his mind and recommended them to me; I didn’t very well explain to myself why, for there are affairs of state that I for my part have never understood; but, in short, I believed it, and, without knowing why, I was satisfied.