"Who, I?" said the patron, laughing; "I have sailed about
with my father, and I know what is called a sou, a crown, a
pistole, a louis, and a double louis, in all the languages
of Europe; my crew, therefore, listen to me as they would to
an oracle, and obey me as if I were an admiral."

"Then it was you who preferred M. Lambert as the best
customer?"

"Yes, certainly. And, to be frank, my lord, was I wrong?"

"You will see that by and by."

"At all events, my lord, if there is a fault, the fault is
mine; and my comrades should not be dealt hardly with on
that account."

"This is decidedly an intelligent, sharp fellow," thought
Monk. Then, after a few minutes, silence employed in
scrutinizing the fisherman, -- "You come from Ostend, did
you not say?" asked the general.

"Yes, my lord, in a straight line."

"You have then heard of the affairs of the day; for I have
no doubt that both in France and Holland they excite
interest. What is he doing who calls himself king of
England?"