It would be droll if our salvation was accompanying us to the desert." The vicomte was up and heading toward D'Herouville.
"Victor, lad," said the Chevalier, "go you and see if there is anything in the pockets of that grey cloak." "Well, Monsieur ?" said D'Herouville, eagerly.
"There is a ghost upon the ship," replied the vicomte.
"You have secured the papers ?" "Papers ?" with elevated brows.

"Is there more than one, then ?" the vicomte's tone hardening.
"Paper or papers, it matters not; I was speaking only in a general way." "Do you recall that when I touched that cloak it gave forth a crackling sound as of paper ?" "It was paper," said the count impatiently.

What was this man D'Halluys driving at?
"Well, as I said;" and the vicomte twisted the ends of his mustache and gnawed it between his teeth.

"There is a ghost upon this ship.

There was nothing in that pocket, not even a piece of paper as large as your thumb-nail." "You lie!" roughly.
Their faces came close together.
"If Monsieur le Chevalier leaves enough of you, Monsieur," said the vicomte.