"Indeed! I am sorry, Alphonse, to hear you say so. Le Genré is not fit for such a trust. He has no judgment, no discretion. It would be a hundred to one that he never reached France." "That is just my opinion," said the youth, coolly. "Well! And with this opinion, you would have me risk the vessel in his hands?" "Yes, I would! The simple question is, not so much the safety of the vessel as our own. He is a dangerous person. His presence here is dangerous to us. If he stays, unless our force is increased, in another month he will have the fortress in his hands; he will be master here. You have no power even now to prevent him. You know not whom to trust. The very parties that you arm and send out for provisions, might, if they pleased, turn upon and rend us. If _he_ were not the most suspicious person in the world--doubtful of the very men that serve him--he would soon bring the affair to an issue. Fortunately, he doubts rather more than we confide. He knows not his own strength, and your seeming composure leads him to overrate ours. But he is getting wiser. The conspiracy grows every day. I am clear that you should let him go, take his vessel, pick his crew, and disappear. He will not go to France, that I am certain. He will shape his course for the West Indies as soon as he is out of our sight, and be a famous picaroon before the year is over." "Alphonse, you are an enemy of Le Genré." "That is certain," replied the youth; "but if I am his enemy, that is no good reason why I should be the enemy of truth." "True, but you suspect much of this. You know nothing." "I _know_ all that I have told you," replied the young man, warmly. "Indeed! How?" "That I cannot tell. Enough that I am free to swear upon the Holy Evangel, that all I say is true. Le Genré is at the head of a faction which is conspiring against you." "Can you give me proof of this?" "Yes, whenever you dare issue the order for his arrest and that of others. But this you cannot do. You must not. They are too strong for you. If Achille were here now!" "Ay! Would he were!" They now paused, as if the end of their walk had been reached. Laudonniere wheeled about, with the purpose of returning. They had not begun well to retrace their steps before the figure of a person was seen approaching them. "Speak of the devil," said Alphonse, "and he thinks himself called; here comes Le Genré." "Indeed!" said Laudonniere. "See now if I am not right--he comes to solicit the command of the Sylph."