“How is that?” I asked.
“We were aboard the Ville de Paris,” he said, “and were doing duty on the lower deck. We fought to the last, and fully believed that the ship would go down. At one time the admiral was the only person left unwounded on the upper deck. Officer after officer was killed as they went up to join him. We were about to follow, when our flag was hauled down. However, we expect to be exchanged soon, when, for my part, I intend to return to France.”
This was said as we walked along with the young Frenchmen.
The lodgings to which they introduced us consisted of a single room, in which they slept and took their meals; but they didn’t seem a bit ashamed of it, and did the honours with as great an air as if they were receiving us in a magnificent saloon. They had evidently won the heart of their mulatto landlady, who placed an elegant repast on the table,—indeed, in a country where fruits and delicacies are abundant, that is not any difficult matter.
“The English are very polite to us here; and some of the young ladies are charming,” observed Dubois. “There is one family especially polite,—that of a Monsieur Talboys. Ah! ma foi! his little daughter is perfectly charming.”
On hearing the name of Talboys, Tom Pim pricked up his ears and looked at me, for he was not able to understand all that was said.
“We are acquainted with Mr Talboys,” I observed, “and all must admire his daughter. Is she not engaged to be married yet?”
“Ah, yes, there’s the pity,” said Dubois, shrugging his shoulders; “to a military officer, I’m told,—the Capitaine Duffy. He has lately obtained his promotion, and appeared at a ball in a bright new uniform, which completely captivated the young lady’s heart.”
“I’ll not believe it until I see her, and she tells me so,” exclaimed Tom, starting up. “You must have been misinformed, monsieur.”
“Ma foi! I hope so,” said Dubois; “for I thought I was making great way, and resolved, if her father would accept me as his son-in-law, to give up the sea and settle down as a planter in Jamaica.”