“To judge by his accent,” he said, with a hint of a sneer, “monsieur is not a Frenchman himself.”

At this I affected to be mightily huffed.  Laying my hand on my sword, and knitting my brows to a frown, I replied: 

“His majesty has honored me with a commission.  No doubt if Monsieur le Maire has any serious objections—­”

“Pardon, Monsieur le Capitaine,” the maire hastened to say, alarmed at my tone.  “I was only concerned for monsieur’s safety.  Certainly he shall have a smack, equipped as befits the servants of his majesty.”

“That is well spoken, monsieur,” I said.  “Is it true, may I ask, that Monsieur Duguay-Trouin is in your town?”

“Not at this moment, monsieur.”

I thrilled with relief at this.

“He has gone half a league eastward to the chateau of Monsieur le duc de Portorson, having already sent a message to St. Malo to acquaint the admiral that he was forced to put in here by the appearance of the English warships.”

“And did he not fear that in his absence the English might swoop down upon his vessel and the prizes he has captured?” I asked.

“They are hidden behind the point, monsieur.  Besides, the highest part of our town commands a view of forty miles of sea, and we have placed a man there who will fire a musket if a strange sail appears.”

“Then I hope that we shall after all make our voyage to Cherbourg in safety,” I said with an air of satisfaction.  “And now, will monsieur be good enough to select the smack?”

Before he could answer, a man who had just cantered up on horseback entered and said: 

“Monsieur le Maire, Monsieur Duguay-Trouin is supping with Monsieur le Duc.  Will monsieur kindly acquaint the lieutenant in charge of the brig at the jetty, and say that Monsieur Duguay-Trouin will return before dark?”

“Can not you take the message yourself?” said the maire, whose temper I fear, had been ruffled by his interview with me.

The man explained that he had been bidden to ride on without delay to St. Malo; Monsieur Duguay-Trouin, he believed, was concerting a plan to entrap the English vessels, and it was of particular importance that the letter he bore should reach the admiral early.  The maire then agreed to have the message conveyed to the lieutenant on the brig, and the horseman took his leave.

During their short conversation, which I only partly heard, my brain was whirling with a wild dance of notions the messenger’s tidings had suggested.  When he had gone, I turned to the maire.

“Monsieur,” I said.  “I think there is much soundness in the advice you gave me just now.  It will probably be safer for us to go to Cherbourg by land.  In that case, however, I must request you to billet us for the night.”

“Assuredly, monsieur,” said the little man, delighted at the turn affairs had taken.  “Of how many does your party consist?”