“Oh!  Do you know him?”

“Yes.  And I wanted to ask him a favour.”

“Then you will get me leave to go over every part of the Lorraine as soon as she comes into port?”

“To be sure; nothing could be easier.”

Then Jean seemed to hesitate, to be weighing his words, and to want to lead up to a difficult subject.  He went on: 

“On the whole, life is very endurable on board those great Transatlantic liners.  More than half the time is spent on shore in two splendid cities—­New York and Havre; and the remainder at sea with delightful company.  In fact, very pleasant acquaintances are sometimes made among the passengers, and very useful in after-life—­yes, really very useful.  Only think, the captain, with his perquisites on coal, can make as much as twenty-five thousand francs a year or more.”

Roland muttered an oath followed by a whistle, which testified to his deep respect for the sum and the captain.

Jean went on: 

“The purser makes as much as ten thousand, and the doctor has a fixed salary of five thousand, with lodgings, keep, light, firing, service, and everything, which makes it up to ten thousand at least.  That is very good pay.”

Pierre raising his eyes met his brother’s and understood.

Then, after some hesitation, he asked: 

“Is it very hard to get a place as medical man on board a Transatlantic liner?”

“Yes—­and no.  It all depends on circumstances and recommendation.”

There was a long pause; then the doctor began again.

“Next month, you say, the Lorraine is to sail?”

“Yes.  On the 7th.”

And they said nothing more.

Pierre was considering.  It certainly would be a way out of many difficulties if he could embark as medical officer on board the steamship.  By-and-by he could see; he might perhaps give it up.  Meanwhile he would be gaining a living, and asking for nothing from his parents.  Only two days since he had been forced to sell his watch, for he would no longer hold out his hand to beg of his mother.  So he had no other resource left, no opening to enable him to eat the bread of any house but this which had become uninhabitable, or sleep in any other bed, or under any other roof.  He presently said, with some little hesitation: 

“If I could, I would very gladly sail in her.”

Jean asked: 

“What should hinder you?”

“I know no one in the Transatlantic Shipping Company.”

Roland was astounded.

“And what has become of all your fine schemes for getting on?”

Pierre replied in a low voice: 

“There are times when we must bring ourselves to sacrifice everything and renounce our fondest hopes.  And after all it is only to make a beginning, a way of saving a few thousand francs to start fair with afterward.”

His father was promptly convinced.