THE VOICE OF THE TEMPTER.
Cloarek, reassured in regard to the probable consequences of the ship
owner's visit, was anxious to ascertain the object of his coming, but it
was first necessary to devise some way of helping him up the cliff, so
Segoffin went in search of a rope. They threw one end of it to M.
Verduron, and he soon made the ascent, thanks to its aid.
"Come in the house," said Cloarek, without making any attempt to conceal
his annoyance. "I want to know why you ventured to come and search me
out when I had taken such pains to conceal my identity."
"Well, to make a long story short, I came to hold a council of war with
you."
"A council of war? Are you mad?"
"By no means, my brave captain, as you will profit by it to the extent
of at least four or five hundred thousand francs."
"In other words, you want me to put to sea again, I suppose. But one
question, here and now: What right had you to make a confidential letter
that I wrote to you--what right, I say, had you to make such a letter
public?"
"I thought it would give such pleasure to the many readers of the
_Journal_, all of whom are hungering for news of the bravest and most
renowned of privateers."
"You are very complimentary, I am sure, but this indiscretion on your
part has annoyed me greatly."
"In that case your modesty will certainly suffer very much from the
article in to-day's paper."
"What article? Let me tell you once for all--"
"Don't be alarmed, my dear captain. It merely described how the brave
Captain l'Endurci conducted an attack, how like a tiger he fought, etc.
It said nothing in relation to his private life."
"This is unbearable," said Cloarek, impatiently, though he was in
reality greatly relieved.
"I was certainly actuated by no evil motive, in any event; besides, as
Segoffin says, there is no undoing that which is done, or words to that
effect."
"It is useless to discuss the matter further. You came here to ask me to
put to sea again. I shall do nothing of the kind. That is the end of
it."
"But it is not the end of it by any means, my dear captain. Just give me
your attention for a moment. A three-master belonging to the East India
Company, with two million francs in bullion, will soon be along. Two
million francs, do you hear?"
"If she had ten millions aboard it would make no difference to me. I
shall not put to sea again. I have said it, and I mean it."
"It is true that you have said so, my dear captain, but you will change
your mind--for many reasons."
"I never go back on my word, monsieur."
"No more do I; but often, and in spite of ourselves, circumstances
force--"
"Once again I tell you that I said no, and no it is."
"You said no, I admit! You will say yes, too, my dear captain,"
responded the ship owner, with an air of profound conviction.
"Enough, M. Verduron, enough!" cried Cloarek, stamping his foot,
angrily.
"Don't irritate M. Yvon," Segoffin remarked to the ship owner, _sotto
voce_. "I know him. You'll only bring down a terrific storm upon your
head."
"All I ask, my dear captain," persisted M. Verduron, "is that you will
give me your attention for five minutes, that is all."
"Go on, then."
"You will see by this clipping from an English newspaper,--and the
sources of information seem to be perfectly trustworthy, by the
way,--you will see that the British cruiser _Vanguard_ which is
convoying the richly laden vessel is commanded by Captain Blake."
"Captain Blake?"
"The same," replied the ship owner. "He is, as you know, one of the most
daring officers in the British navy, and, unfortunately for us, he has
always come off victorious in his encounters with our vessels."
"Oh, if I could only have been lucky enough to get a shot at him!"
muttered Segoffin.
"You will, never fear, you old sea-wolf. As for you, my dear captain,
your silence means consent, I am sure. Think of the honour, as well as
the profit, to be derived from the operation: four or five hundred
thousand francs and the _Vanguard_ in tow of the _Hell-hound_, all in
forty-eight hours."
Segoffin, who had been accustomed for years to make a profound study of
his employer's physiognomy, and who had been carefully noting the effect
of these proposals, said in a low tone to the ship owner, shaking his
head the while:
"The bait is tempting, but he isn't going to swallow it this time."
His prognostications proved correct; the flush of anger gradually faded
from Cloarek's face; his contracted features relaxed, and it was calmly,
half-smilingly, that he at last said to M. Verduron:
"You are a clever tempter, but I have a talisman against you. It is the
promise I have made to my daughter not to leave her again. You have seen
her, and you must feel that I shall keep my word."
"Mlle. Cloarek is a charming girl. There is not the slightest doubt of
that, my dear captain, but you would be very foolish to miss such a fine
opportunity as this."
"It is impossible, I tell you."
"Help me persuade him, Segoffin, and then you will get your wished-for
shot at Captain Blake, I promise you."
"Segoffin knows that I never break my word, M. Verduron. I said no, and
no it is."
"_Sacre bleu!_ it is amazing how atrociously selfish some people are!"
exclaimed the ship owner, highly incensed by Cloarek's refusal.
"You must be jesting, M. Verduron," responded Cloarek, who could not
help smiling at this outbreak. "It is all very easy for you to talk
about stirring conflicts. I, for my part, should like to know which is
the most selfish, you who remain safe and comfortable in your office at
Dieppe, or the sailor who mans your ship, and exposes himself to all the
perils of deadly combats."
"You talk as if I had to run no risk whatever," exclaimed Verduron. "You
forget to say anything about the bullets I receive."
"Well, upon my word! I never knew before that you, too, were in the
habit of exposing yourself to a shower of bullets!" cried Segoffin.
"Isn't my vessel under fire if I am not? And how about all the repairs,
and all the damages your humble servant has to pay for? And the wounds,
and the legs and arms, you have forgotten what they cost me, I suppose.
Didn't I have to pay for five legs and three arms lost in that last
fight of yours? Reckon them up at the rate of fifty crowns a limb, and
see what they come to."
"But you must remember that you don't have to pay a sou when a man loses
his head," retorted Segoffin.
"This is no subject for jesting, I want you to understand," snapped the
ship owner, who was evidently becoming more and more excited, "for am I
not doing everything on earth to secure you the best of crews? For don't
you think, yourself, captain, that the prospect of a small pension in
case of serious injuries encourages our sailors and makes regular devils
of them under fire? And yet when I am bleeding myself in this fashion, I
am repaid by the blackest ingratitude."
"What you say is absurd," replied Cloarek, shrugging his shoulders. "I
have quadrupled your fortune."
"And because Captain l'Endurci has made all the money he wants, he
doesn't care in the least whether other persons have or not," persisted
the ship owner.
"There is not the slightest need of your working yourself into such a
passion, Verduron," replied Cloarek. "There are plenty of brave
sea-captains in Dieppe, thank Heaven! quite as capable of commanding the
_Hell-hound_ and contending successfully with Captain Blake as I am."
"Then you refuse, captain?"
"For the tenth time, yes."
"Positively?"
"Positively."
"Very well, then, captain," responded the ship owner, resolutely. "What
I have been unable to obtain by persuasion and entreaties, I shall
obtain in some other way."
"What does he mean?" asked Cloarek, turning to Segoffin.
"I mean that it is not easy to resign oneself to the loss of at least
half a million, captain," responded Verduron, threateningly; "so, though
I had no idea that you would persist in your refusal, I was prudent
enough to take my precautions."
"Your precautions?"
"The _Hell-hound_ is now in Havre, where she arrived this morning."
"Then it was the _Hell-hound_ I saw!" cried Segoffin. "I thought I
couldn't be mistaken."
"The brig is at Havre?" exclaimed Cloarek.
"Yes, M. Yvon, but disguised beyond any possibility of recognition. She
has been painted gray with a broad yellow band, and not a sign of a gun
is visible."
"And now will you be kind enough to tell me what all this signifies?"
demanded Cloarek.
"It means that I have changed the appearance of the brig as much as
possible, because all the British cruisers are on the lookout for her,
and now, thanks to this disguise, you will be able to reach Jersey with
little or no trouble."
"You are persistent, I must say," said Cloarek, restraining himself only
by a powerful effort.
"Yes, captain, and what is more, I've got you, and I mean to keep you.
The crew are wild with enthusiasm; the prospect of another voyage under
you has made them frantic with delight. They expect to see you this
evening, and I warn you that if you are not in Havre within an hour,
they will be here in two hours."
"What! You will dare--" began Cloarek, in a voice choked with anger.
"I? Why, I have nothing to do with it, captain. It is your sailors that
you will have to deal with, and you have had a chance to find out
whether they are milk-sops or not. If you persist in your refusal, you
will see one hundred and fifty of those dare-devils here with drums and
fifes, and resolved to have their brave captain, whether or no. I am
afraid those drums and fifes will destroy your _incognito_ effectually
this time."
"Wretch!" roared Cloarek, realising how entirely feasible the ship
owner's plan was, and he would have precipitated himself upon his
tormentor if Segoffin had not suddenly interposed his own body between
the two men and said to Cloarek:
"Remember that there are white hairs under his musk-scented powder, M.
Yvon."
"Oh, knock me down! Kill me, if you like! that will not prevent the
crew from coming for you, nor you from going with them," snarled the
ship owner.
"Don't talk so loud, gentlemen, I beg of you. I hear somebody coming
now."
In another instant Suzanne appeared, pale and terrified.
"Oh, monsieur,--come,--come quick!" she cried.
"What is the matter?"
"Mademoiselle--"
"Is my daughter worse?"
"Oh, monsieur, I am so frightened,--come, come!"
Cloarek, forgetting everything else in his alarm, rushed off, leaving
Segoffin and the ship owner alone together.
"M. Verduron, I tell you very plainly, you have had a narrow escape,"
said the head gunner. "I have only one piece of advice to give you. Get
away from here as soon as possible."
"You may be right," replied the visitor, hastily picking up his hat and
cane.
"I am right."
"Well, listen to me. You know I mean well, and I must admit now that I
am sorry I tried to carry things with such a high hand, for I had no
idea that the captain had a daughter, or that he was so anxious to
conceal the fact that he was a privateer; but no power on earth now, not
even that of the captain himself, can prevent those devilish sailors
from coming here in search of him if he does not go to them, so you had
better tell him, in any case, that the ship's officers and a part of the
crew are waiting for him at the tavern known as The Golden Anchor on the
quay."
The ship owner hastened off and Segoffin darted into the house to
inquire if there was any improvement in Sabine's condition.