e had three days ago. Do
you think I don't bear it in mind? You must have had a time of it! It
was in the midst of all this misery, alongside of my old craft, that you
shaped, and cut, and turned, and twisted, and dragged about, and filed,
and sawed, and carpentered, and schemed, and performed more miracles
there by yourself than all the saints in paradise. Ah! you annoyed me
enough once with your bagpipe. They call it a _biniou_ in Brittany.
Always the same tune too, silly fellow. And yet you don't love
Deruchette? I don't know what is the matter with you. I recollect it
all now. I was there in the corner; Deruchette said, 'He shall be my
husband;' and so you shall. You don't love her! Either you must be mad,
or else I am mad. And you stand there, and speak not a word. I tell you
you are not at liberty to do all the things you have done, and then say,
after all, 'I don't love Deruchette.' People don't do others services in
order to put them in a passion. Well; if you don't marry her, she shall
be single all her life. In the first place, I shall want you. You must
be the pilot of the Durande. Do you imagine I mean to part with you like
that? No, no, my brave boy; I don't let you go. I have got you now; I'll
not even listen to you. Where will they find a sailor like you? You are
the man I want. But why don't you speak?"

Meanwhile the harbour bell had aroused the household and the
neighbourhood. Douce and Grace had risen, and had just entered the lower
room, silent and astonished. Grace had a candle in her hand. A group of
neighbours, townspeople, sailors, and peasants, who had rushed out of
their houses, were outside on the quay, gazing in wonderment at the
funnel of the Durande in the sloop. Some, hearing Lethierry's voice in
the lower room, began to glide in by the half-opened door. Between the
faces of two worthy old women appeared that of Sieur Landoys, who had
the good fortune always to find himself where he would have regretted to
have been absent.

Men feel a satisfaction in having witnesses of their joys. The sort of
scattered support which a crowd presents pleases them at such times;
their delight draws new life from it. Mess Lethierry suddenly perceived
that there were persons about him; and he welcomed the audience at once.

"Ah! you are here, my friends? I am very glad to see you. You know the
news? That man has been there, and brought it back. How d'ye do, Sieur
Landoys? When I woke up just now, the first