Rantaine lifted the flap of his hat, and replied:
“You have already done me the honour to mention it.”
“Exactly; but in terms less precise. I said a man: I say now, a coast-guardman. The man wore the number 619. He was the father of a family; leaves a wife and five children.”
“That is no doubt correct,” said Rantaine.
There was a momentary pause.
“They are picked men—those coast-guard people,” continued Clubin; “almost all old sailors.”
“I have remarked,” said Rantaine, “that people generally do leave a wife and five children.”
Sieur Clubin continued:
“Guess how much this revolver cost me?”
“It is a pretty tool,” said Rantaine.