said long ago they would make a match."

"Well, let people chat as much as they like! _He_ don't care for
her, that I know. It's only her money he's after. She is a silly
little fool, all pink and white and yellow hair."

"Perhaps! But all we men can see that she is a very pretty girl. And
how do you know he don't care for her, eh?"

"How dare you to question me like this! Never mind how I know, but I
do."

"Well, my girl, I can tell you all about it. It would seem that Le
Mierre has been making a fool of you. All Torteval knows it. And
there's times and times I've seen you together; and him making love
to you."

"You're a sneak and a liar! So you've spied on us, Perrin Corbet,
have you?"

The fisherman was absolutely unmoved by her rudeness. His love was
beyond and above any feeling of even proper pride.

"I've not spied on you at all, but it wasn't my fault if you didn't
see me; and you never gave me a chance of telling you all this
before. He's sure and certain to marry Blaisette. It's as good as if
she was his wife now you've seen the cart taking the linen to
Orvilliere. Don't be vexed with me. It's for your good I speak. You
know how I love you, Ellenor."

"Bah, who cares for your love! I was a fool to tell you the amusing
thing I've seen. And I tell you, once more, he don't love Blaisette
Simon."

"Well, have it your own way! I've nothing more to say about the
marriage. But I've a mind to go to warn Blaisette about her husband
to be."

Ellenor turned on Perrin a look of wild terror and anger.

"If I could, I'd kill you, because I hate you so! You would go to
tell Blaisette that you've seen me and him together!"

"I would do no such thing. But I would wish to warn her that Dominic
is mixed up with smugglers."

A dead silence was at last broken by Ellenor's husky words.

"How do you know he's mixed up with smugglers?"

"Listen to my tale this time," he said, "but it isn't at all
amusing. One night I was off the point of the cliffs below the
Haunted House. I was in my boat, fishing for _bream_. It was full
moon, but me and my boat were in shadow. None could see us. By and
bye--I saw a long, narrow boat shoot out from a cave not far off
from me. In it were three or four black looking foreigners. They
pushed their boat close under the cliffs and waited, full an hour.
Then, by and bye, down came Le Mierre and another man with bundles
of silk, or what looked like it ... and the fellow in the boat got