Sieur Clubin, between the whiffs of his pipe, said to the landlord of the Jean Auberge:
“Well; and when does the Tamaulipas get under way?”
“The day after to-morrow—Thursday,” replied the landlord.
On that evening, Clubin supped at the coast-guard officers’ table; and, contrary to his habit, went out after his supper. The consequence of his absence was, that he could not attend to the office of the Durande, and thus lost a little in the matter of freights. This fact was remarked in a man ordinarily punctual.
It appeared that he had chatted a few moments with his friend the money-changer.
He returned two hours after Noguette had sounded the Curfew bell. The Brazilian bell sounds at ten o’clock. It was therefore midnight.
VI
THE JACRESSADE
Forty years ago, St. Malo possessed an alley known by the name of the “Ruelle Coutanchez.” This alley no longer exists, having been removed for the improvements of the town.