“No, dame, only my customary visit, you know, to the château. Monsieur Plessis and family are arrived, and he has a friend with him, we understand, a Monsieur de Tourville. Monsieur de Gramont, you have heard, I dare say, is appointed maire of this arrondissement, having quitted the army.” “Eh, he is young,” said the dame, “to leave the army, and our country in want of soldiers. He is married, I suppose; but will you take a glass of my wine or brandy, eh, Monsieur Perrin?” “Mon Dieu! avec plasir, dame; you have always a kind heart and a good bottle of wine for a friend.” And the two men sat down at a table, but Sergeant Perrin kept eyeing Julian Arden, who had lit his pipe, and was sauntering out to the yard. “Pardon me, young man,” said the Sergeant, “are you one of the crew of Captain Gaudet’s craft, the Vengeance?” “No, monsieur, I am not; though I think I shall join him.” Dame Moret looked very uneasy, but she did not let the gendarmes see that she was so. She placed a couple of bottles of wine, and glasses, some nice oaten cake, and a jar of preserves, on the table. “Cà, this is a luxury, dame,” said the Sergeant, but, turning to Julian, he said, “Where do you come from, young man, and what is your name? You are a stranger to me.” “My name is Louis Lebeau,” said Julian, coolly; “I am going to Rouen in a few days, after I have settled with Captain Pierre Gaudet.” “Sacre bleu! mon garçon, do not hesitate. Captain Gaudet is a brave man, and the Vengeance, if she ever gets afloat again, is the best craft out of Havre, or Brest either. She took more prizes than any privateer on the coast, till that sacre frigate Anglais came in, and thought to cut her out of Havre in the very face of the forts.” “How so?” said Julian, quietly sitting down, Dame Moret handing him a glass, and putting a bottle of wine beside him, feeling quite relieved from her fears, seeing him take the questioning so coolly, and knowing, as far as manner and language went, that he was a perfect Frenchman. “Why, you see, those devils of English will do anything when there’s gold to be had. One of their frigates came to an anchor in the south road, and the captain with his boats thought to walk off with the Vengeance privateer. She was at anchor before the town. Diable! their insolence is wonderful, to think of taking, as it were, the bit out of your mouth.” “Just like them,” said Julian, filling his glass. “Your health, sergeant. Those islanders would take the teeth out of your mouth if you kept it open!” “Sacre, oui! I believe you; but they were caught in a trap, you see, for there was no wind, and the tide was against them, whilst the boats from the town, full of soldiers, and an armed lugger, and the guns of the fort opened on them, and so the vessel was retaken, and the English Captain, Monsieur Got-dam, and his crew were taken prisoners and sent to Paris.” “Were all the officers taken,” said Julian, “and sent to Paris?”