"I should like to know it, for I confess to you that she has completely upset my ideas; the confounded girl, with her bird's voice, and sly smile, turns me about like a whirligig: by Heaven, I am the most unfortunate of men--tell me your plan, brother." "Why, sell her to me." Belle Tête suddenly turned pale at this blunt offer, which, indeed, settled everything; but which, though he did not suspect it, Michael only made in a joke, and to try him; he frowned, and angrily replied in a voice trembling with emotion, and striking the table with his fist-- "Zounds, mate, that is a magnificent way you have found, but the fiend take me if I accept it; no, no, whatever sorrow the little witch causes me--have I not told you that she has bewitched me?--I love her! Blood and thunder, do you understand that?" "Of course I understand it; but come, reassure yourself, I have not the slightest intention of depriving you of your Louise; what should I do with a wife? Besides, what I have seen of other men's love affairs, does not offer me the slightest inducement to try it on my own account." "All right," Belle Tête replied, reassured by this frank declaration, "that is speaking like a man; and, after all, you are right, brother; although I would not consent for anything in the world to part with my Louise, still, after the experience I have of her, if the bargain was to be made again, hang me if I would purchase her." "Stuff!" said Michael, with a shrug of his shoulders, "Men always say that, and when the moment arrives, they never fail to begin the same folly over again." Belle Tête reflected for a moment, and then tapped Michael amicably on the shoulder, at the same time saying with a laugh-- "On my word that is true, brother; you are right, I believe that I should really behave as you say." "I am certain of it," Michael replied, with another shrug of his shoulders. During this aside, between the two adventurers, the ten minutes had elapsed. "Brethren," said Montbarts, "we are about to proceed to an examination of the votes." He looked: all the glasses were empty. "You are unanimous," he said, "and that is well. Brother Belle Tête, you are elected governor of Port Margot." "Brethren," the latter said, bowing all round, "I thank you for having given me your votes. I shall not deceive your expectations; our colony, even though I was obliged to bury myself beneath its ruins, shall never fall into the hands of the Spaniards, and you know me well enough not to doubt my oath. I intend to set to work this very day; for, as our admiral has very justly said, we have not a moment to lose. Confide the duty of guarding your interests to me." "Before we separate," said Montbarts, "it would be as well, I fancy, to agree to keep our deliberations secret for a few days." "You may divulge them tomorrow without danger," Belle Tête continued; "but allow me, brethren, to choose from among you the few assistants I shall require."