thing I spied was the
funnel. It was under my window. There's not a nail missing. They make
pictures of Napoleon's deeds; but I think more of that than of the
battle of Austerlitz. You have just left your beds, my good friends. The
Durande has found you sleeping. While you are putting on your night-caps
and blowing out your candles there are others working like heroes. We
are a set of cowards and do-nothings; we sit at home rubbing our
rheumatisms; but happily that does not prevent there being some of
another stamp. The man of the Bu de la Rue has arrived from the Douvres
rocks. He has fished up the Durande from the bottom of the sea; and
fished up my money out of Clubin's pocket, from a greater depth still.
But how did you contrive to do it? All the powers of darkness were
against you--the wind and the sea--the sea and the wind. It's true
enough that you are a magician. Those who say that are not so stupid
after all. The Durande is back again. The tempests may rage now; that
cuts the ground from under them. My friends, I can inform you that there
was no shipwreck after all. I have examined all the machinery. It is
like new, perfect. The valves go as easily as rollers. You would think
them made yesterday. You know that the waste water is carried away by a
tube inside another tube, through which come the waters from the
boilers; this was to economise the heat. Well; the two tubes are there
as good as ever. The complete engine, in fact. She is all there, her
wheels and all. Ah! you shall marry her."

"Marry the complete engine?" asked Sieur Landoys.

"No; Deruchette; yes; the engine. Both of them. He shall be my double
son-in-law. He shall be her captain. Good day, Captain Gilliatt; for
there will soon be a captain of the Durande. We are going to do a world
of business again. There will be trade, circulation, cargoes of oxen and
sheep. I wouldn't give St. Sampson for London now. And there stands the
author of all this. It was a curious adventure, I can tell you. You will
read about it on Saturday in old Mauger's _Gazette_. Malicious Gilliatt
is very malicious. What's the meaning of these Louis-d'ors here?"

Mess Lethierry had just observed, through the opening of the lid, that
there was some gold in the box upon the notes. He seized it, opened and
emptied it into the palm of his hand, and put the handful of guineas on
the table.

"For the poor, Sieur Landoys. Give those sovereigns from me to the
constable of St. Samp