I believe, if she had not been laden, and I had been her master, he would have bought her.

But I told him I was only mate, and that she belonged to the firm of Morrel & Son.

'Ah, yes,' he said, 'I know them.

The Morrels have been shipowners from father to son; and there was a Morrel who served in the same regiment with me when I was in garrison at Valence.'" "Pardieu, and that is true!" cried the owner, greatly delighted.

"And that was Policar Morrel, my uncle, who was afterwards a captain.