One of the causes of his delay was, that before going to his inn, he had paid a visit to the Dinan gate of the town, a place where there were several wine-shops. In one of these wine-shops, where he was not known, he had bought a bottle of brandy, which he placed in the pocket of his overcoat, as if he desired to conceal it. Then, as the Durande was to start on the following morning, he had taken a turn aboard to satisfy himself that everything was in order.
When Sieur Clubin returned to the Jean Auberge, there was no one left in the lower room except the old sea-captain, M. Gertrais-Gaboureau, who was drinking a jug of ale and smoking his pipe.
M. Gertrais-Gaboureau saluted Sieur Clubin between a whiff and a draught of ale.
“How d’ye do, Captain Clubin?”
“Good evening, Captain Gertrais.”
“Well, the Tamaulipas is gone.”
“Ah!” said Clubin, “I did not observe.”
Captain Gertrais-Gaboureau expectorated, and said:
“Zuela has decamped.”
“When was that?”