“‘Stay,’ said Lieutenant Veillot, calmly and quietly; and, turning to his commander—who seemed somewhat in awe of his lieutenant, and for a good reason, he could not work his ship without him, and had no more notion of bringing her into action than a school-boy—he said some few words to the captain, who looked sulky, but at length said, ‘Eh, bien, you can do so.’ Lieutenant Veillot then said, ‘Send those two men aft belonging to the Vengeance.’ The two rascals came swaggering up, and then stood eyeing me with looks of malice and triumph. “‘Now, harkee, my men,’ said the Lieutenant; ‘if you do not give me a true statement, and answer the questions I ask you honestly, you will pay for it, and get your backs well scratched; for I strongly suspect you are telling a lie when you say this young stripling murdered your comrade. Now answer me; what is the name of this youth?’ “‘He was entered in the ship’s books, Julian Coulancourt.’ “‘Well, what was he—was he before the mast?’ “‘Yes,’ returned the men, ‘he was before the mast, rated second class.’ “‘Then how comes he to be attired in plain clothes and garments only worn by gentlemen? He did not dress in that manner working as a common sailor.’ “‘He jumped overboard—any one of us would have done the same—to save Captain Renaudin’s son; and the captain, to reward him, gave him those clothes, and kept him to attend on his son.’ “‘Is this a correct statement, young man?’ aid the Lieutenant, turning to me. “‘Very nearly so, monsieur,’ I returned. ‘Captain Renaudin, finding I was connected with the Duke de Coulancourt’s family——’ “‘Why, curse your impudence!’ burst out Captain Baudet, ‘there are no dukes now; the guillotine has weeded our poor country of all those gentry. There, I have had quite enough of this examination; I don’t care a sous whether you murdered your comrade or not—it won’t bring him to life again. You were entered on the books of the Vengeance as seaman, second class; go forward and do your duty; and, harkee ye, if I catch you skulking, or playing the gentleman, I’ll make your back a curiosity to look at. Go,’ and the brute walked off. “Lieutenant Veillot bit his lip. ‘Go, my lad,’ said he kindly to me; ‘do your duty, and you need not be afraid. When we get to Brest things may turn out differently; you shall not be punished for nothing, at all events.’