glance, to which he replied by a smile that an indifferent
spectator would have been surprised to see on his stern features.
The two men were left alone. "Well, sir," said Morrel, sinking into
a chair, "you have heard all, and I have nothing further to tell
you."
"I see," returned the Englishman, "that a fresh and unmerited
misfortune his overwhelmed you, and this only increases my desire
to serve you."
"Oh, sir!" cried Morrel.
"Let me see," continued the stranger, "I am one of your largest
creditors."
"Your bills, at least, are the first that will fall due."
"Do you wish for time to pay?"
"A delay would save my honor, and consequently my life."
"How long a delay do you wish for?" — Morrel reflected. "Two
months," said he.
"I will give you three," replied the stranger.
"But," asked Morrel, "will the house of Thomson & French
consent?"
"Oh, I take everything on myself. To-day is the 5th of
June."
"Yes."
"Well, renew these bills up to the 5th of September; and on the
5th of September at eleven o'clock (the hand of the clock pointed
to eleven), I shall come to receive the money."
"I shall expect you," returned Morrel; "and I will pay you — or
I shall he dead." These last words were uttered in so low a tone
that the stranger could not hear them. The bills were renewed, the
old ones destroyed, and the poor ship-owner found himself with
three months before him to collect his resources. The Englishman
received his thanks with the phlegm peculiar to his nation; and
Morrel, overwhelming him with grateful blessings, conducted him to
the staircase. The stranger met Julie on the stairs; she pretended
to be descending, but in reality she was waiting for him. "Oh, sir"
— said she, clasping her hands.
"Mademoiselle," said the stranger, "one day you will receive a
letter signed `Sinbad the Sailor.' Do exactly what the letter bids
you, however strange it may appear."
"Yes, sir," returned Julie.
"Do you promise?"
"I swear to you I will."
"It is well. Adieu, mademoiselle. Continue to be the good, sweet"I swear to you I will."
"It is well. Adieu, mademoiselle. Continue to be the good, sweet
girl you are at present, and I have great hopes that heaven will
reward you by giving you Emmanuel for a husband."
Julie uttered a faint cry, blushed like a rose, and leaned
against the baluster. The stranger waved his hand, and continued to
descend. In the court he found Penelon, who, with a rouleau of a
hundred francs in either hand, seemed unable to make up his mind to
retain them. "Come with me, my friend," said the Englishman; "I
wish to speak to you."The extension provided for by the agent of Thomson & French,
at the moment when Morrel expected it least, was to the poor
shipowner so decided a stroke of good fortune that he almost dared
to believe that fate was at length grown weary of wasting her spite
upon him. The same day he told his wife, Emmanuel, and his daughter
all that had occurred; and a ray of hope, if not of tranquillity,
returned to the family. Unfortunately, however, Morrel had not only
engagements with the house of Thomson & French, who had shown
themselves so considerate towards him; and, as he had said, in
business he had correspondents, and not friends. When he thought
the matter over, he could by no means account for this generous
conduct on the part of Thomson & French towards him; and could
only attribute it to some such selfish argument as this: — "We had
better help a man who owes us nearly 300,000 francs, and have those
300,000 francs at the end of three months than hasten his ruin, and
get only six or eight per cent of our money back again."
Unfortunately, whether through envy or stupidity, all Morrel's
correspondents did not take this view; and some even came to a
contrary decision. The bills signed by Morrel were presented at his
office with scrupulous exactitude, and, thanks to the delay granted
by the Englishman, were paid by Cocles with equal punctuality.
Cocles thus remained in his accustomed tranquillity. It was Morrel
alone who remembered with alarm, that if he had to repay on the
15th the 50,000 francs of M. de Boville, and on the 30th the 32,500
francs of bills, for which, as well as the debt due to the
inspector of prisons, he had time granted, he must be a ruined
man.
The opinion of all the commercial men was that, under the
reverses which had successively weighed down Morrel, it was
impossible for him to remain solvent. Great, therefore, was the
astonishment when at the end of the month, he cancelled all his
obligations with his usual punctuality. Still confidence was notobligations with his usual punctuality. Still confidence was not
restored to all minds, and the general opinion was that the
complete ruin of the unfortunate shipowner had been postponed only
until the end of the month. The month passed, and Morrel made
extraordinary efforts to get in all his resources. Formerly his
paper, at any date, was taken with confidence, and was even in
request. Morrel now tried to negotiate bills at ninety days only,
and none of the banks would give him credit. Fortunately, Morrel
had some funds coming in on which he could rely; and, as they
reached him, he found himself in a condition to meet his
engagements when the end of July came. The agent of Thomson &
French had not been again seen at Marseilles; the day after, or two
days after his visit to Morrel, he had disappeared; and as in that
city he had had no intercourse but with the mayor, the inspector of
prisons, and M. Morrel, his departure left no trace except in the
memories of these three persons. As to the sailors of the Pharaon,
they must have found snug berths elsewhere, for they also had
disappeared.
Captain Gaumard, recovered from his illness, had returned from
Palma. He delayed presenting himself at Morrel's, but the owner,
hearing of his arrival, went to see him. The worthy shipowner knew,
from Penelon's recital, of the captain's brave conduct during the
storm, and tried to console him. He brought him also the amount of
his wages, which Captain Gaumard had not dared to apply for. As he
descended the staircase, Morrel met Penelon, who was going up.
Penelon had, it would seem, made good use of his money, for he was
newly clad. When he saw his employer, the worthy tar seemed much
embarrassed, drew on one side into the corner of the landing-place,
passed his quid from one cheek to the other, stared stupidly with
his great eyes, and only acknowledged the squeeze of the hand which
Morrel as usual gave him by a slight pressure in return. Morrel
attributed Penelon's embarrassment to the elegance of his attire;