"So it is, Major," the other replied, sarcastically. "I have very important matters to tell you. In your devil of a castle that is impossible, because you have there a number of soldiers and gaolers, who, at your slightest frown, interrupt the person addressing you, and throw him without ceremony into some hole, where they unscrupulously leave him to rot. That is discouraging, on my honour. But here it is far more agreeable, as I am not afraid that you will have me locked up --at least, not for the present. Hence, as the opportunity offers, I wish to take advantage of it to empty my budget, and tell you what I have on my heart." The Major felt internally anxious, without yet knowing positively what he had to fear, so extraordinary to him seemed this way of speaking on the part of a sailor, who had hitherto always displayed a servile politeness toward him. Still, he did not allow anything of this to be seen, but leaned carelessly over the table. "Very good, let us talk, since you feel so great an inclination for it, my good Michael; for I have time, as I am in no hurry." The sailor made his chair turn half round on its hind legs, and finding himself by this movement right facing M. de l'Oursière, he examined him cunningly, for an instant, then drained the contents of his glass; and, after banging the empty glass on the table, he said,-- "It is really a charming passion of yours, Major, to go thus at night to admire the ruins of the convent of St. Honorat in the darkness. It is, really, a charming passion, and a very profitable one, from what I have been able to learn." "What do you mean?" the Major asked, turning pale. "I mean what I say, nothing else! Do you believe in hazard, Major?" "Why--" "No more, I fancy, in that which makes me meet you here, than in the chance that makes you find on a desert island diamonds worth three hundred thousand livres; because the one thing is as impossible as the other?" This time the Major did not attempt to reply, for he felt he was caught out. Michael continued in the same sneering and bantering tone-- "It is certainly ingenious to act as you do. A man soon grows rich by taking with both hands, but like all trades that are too good, this one is rather risky." "You insult me, scoundrel!" the Major stammered. "Take care what you say. If I call--" "Come, come," the sailor interrupted, with a coarse laugh; "I do not intend to notice the insult you cast in my teeth, for I have something else to do. As for calling out, just try it, and you will see what will happen." "That--that is treachery!" "Hang it! Are we not all more or less traitors? You are one--I am one; that is allowed: hence, believe me, it is useless to dwell any longer on this subject, and we had better revert to our business." "Speak," the Major muttered in a gloomy voice.