I was generally liked on board, and had the sailors possessed the right of selecting a captain themselves, I feel convinced their choice would have fallen on me.

There was only one person among the crew who had any feeling of ill-will towards me.

I had quarelled with him some time previously, and had even challenged him to fight me; but he refused." "Now we are getting on.

And what was this man's name ?" "Danglars." "What rank did he hold on board ?" "He was supercargo." "And had you been captain, should you have retained him in his employment ?" "Not if the choice had remained with me, for I had frequently observed inaccuracies in his accounts." "Good again! Now then, tell me, was any person present during your last conversation with Captain Leclere ?" "No; we were quite alone." "Could your conversation have been overheard by any one ?" "It might, for the cabin door was open--and--stay; now I recollect,--Danglars himself passed by just as Captain Leclere was giving me the packet for the grand marshal." "That's better," cried the abbe; "now we are on the right scent.

Did you take anybody with you when you put into the port of Elba ?" "Nobody." "Somebody there received your packet, and gave you a letter in place of it, I think ?" "Yes; the grand marshal did." "And what did you do with that letter ?" "Put it into my portfolio." "You had your portfolio with you, then?
Now, how could a sailor find room in his pocket for a portfolio large enough to contain an official letter ?" "You are right; it was left on board." "Then it was not till your return to the ship that you put the letter in the portfolio ?" "No." "And what did you do with this same letter while returning from Porto-Ferrajo to the vessel ?" "I carried it in my hand." "So that when you went on board the Pharaon, everybody could see that you held a letter in your hand ?" "Yes." "Danglars, as well as the rest ?" "Danglars, as well as others." "Now, listen to me, and try to recall every circumstance attending your arrest.