"A famous good night I have made of it, mother!" said he, in a hoarse and hollow voice, after he had freed himself from his burden. "Look there! There's a prize. Well, I've got three more lumps of copper, quite as big as that, in my boat, a bundle of clothes, and a case filled with something, I know not what, for I did not waste my time in opening it. Perhaps I have been robbed on my way home; we shall see." "And the man you were to meet on the Quai de Billy?" inquired Calabash, while the widow regarded her son in silence. The only reply made by the young man consisted in his plunging his hand into the pocket of his trousers, and jingling a quantity of silver. "Did you take all that from him?" cried Calabash. "No, I didn't; he shelled out two hundred francs of his own accord; and he will fork out eight hundred more as soon as I have--But that's enough; let's, first of all, unload my boat; we can jabber afterwards. Is not Martial here?" "No," said his sister. "So much the better; we will put away the swag before he sees it; leastways, if he can be kept from knowing about it." "What! Are you afraid of him, you coward?" asked Calabash, provokingly. Nicholas shrugged his shoulders significantly; then replied: "Afraid of him? No, I should rather think not! But I have a strong suspicion he means to sell us,--that is my only fear; as for any other sort of dread, my weazen-slicer (knife) has rather too keen an edge for that!" "Ah, when he is not here, you are full of boast and brag; but only let him show his face, and you are quiet as a mouse!" This reproach seemed quite thrown away upon Nicholas, who, affecting not to have heard it, exclaimed: "Come, come! Let's unload the boat at once. Where is Francois, mother? He could help us a good deal." "Mother has locked him up, after having preciously flogged him; and, I can tell you, he will have to go to bed without any supper." "Well and good as far as that goes; but still, he might lend a hand in unloading the boat,--eh, mother? Because, then myself and Calabash could fetch all in at once." The widow raised her hand, and pointed with her finger towards the ceiling. Her daughter perfectly comprehended the signal, and departed at once to fetch Francois.