"There are three or four fishermen there, having their morning glass.

I have no other servants.

My wife does what is needful, for I was obliged to discharge the girl we had, everything has been so slack of late." He led them up to a chamber looking on to the quay.

Jean was puzzled at the man's manner, for he spoke in a confused and hesitating way.

When he closed the door behind him, he stood rubbing his hands together nervously.
"Have you heard lately from Nantes, Monsieur Jean ?" "No, it is five weeks since I had any news; except, of course, what was known about the troops that were here.