His prognostications proved correct; the flush of anger gradually faded from Cloarek's face; his contracted features relaxed, and it was calmly, half-smilingly, that he at last said to M. Verduron: "You are a clever tempter, but I have a talisman against you. It is the promise I have made to my daughter not to leave her again. You have seen her, and you must feel that I shall keep my word." "Mlle. Cloarek is a charming girl. There is not the slightest doubt of that, my dear captain, but you would be very foolish to miss such a fine opportunity as this." "It is impossible, I tell you." "Help me persuade him, Segoffin, and then you will get your wished-for shot at Captain Blake, I promise you." "Segoffin knows that I never break my word, M. Verduron. I said no, and no it is." "_Sacre bleu!_ it is amazing how atrociously selfish some people are!" exclaimed the ship owner, highly incensed by Cloarek's refusal. "You must be jesting, M. Verduron," responded Cloarek, who could not help smiling at this outbreak. "It is all very easy for you to talk about stirring conflicts. I, for my part, should like to know which is the most selfish, you who remain safe and comfortable in your office at Dieppe, or the sailor who mans your ship, and exposes himself to all the perils of deadly combats." "You talk as if I had to run no risk whatever," exclaimed Verduron. "You forget to say anything about the bullets I receive." "Well, upon my word! I never knew before that you, too, were in the habit of exposing yourself to a shower of bullets!" cried Segoffin. "Isn't my vessel under fire if I am not? And how about all the repairs, and all the damages your humble servant has to pay for? And the wounds, and the legs and arms, you have forgotten what they cost me, I suppose. Didn't I have to pay for five legs and three arms lost in that last fight of yours? Reckon them up at the rate of fifty crowns a limb, and see what they come to." "But you must remember that you don't have to pay a sou when a man loses his head," retorted Segoffin. "This is no subject for jesting, I want you to understand," snapped the ship owner, who was evidently becoming more and more excited, "for am I not doing everything on earth to secure you the best of crews? For don't you think, yourself, captain, that the prospect of a small pension in case of serious injuries encourages our sailors and makes regular devils of them under fire? And yet when I am bleeding myself in this fashion, I am repaid by the blackest ingratitude." "What you say is absurd," replied Cloarek, shrugging his shoulders. "I have quadrupled your fortune." "And because Captain l'Endurci has made all the money he wants, he doesn't care in the least whether other persons have or not," persisted the ship owner.