"
He spoke in English, which Desiree hardly understood; for she had
never heard it from English lips, and looked for the first time on
one of that race upon which all the world waited now for salvation.
For the English, of all the nations, were the only men who from the
first had consistently defied Napoleon.
The sailor led the way towards the river. As he passed the lamp
burning dimly above some steps, Desiree saw that he was little more
than a boy. He turned and offered her his hand with a shy laugh,
and together they stood at the bottom of the steps with the water
lapping at their feet.
"Have you a letter," he said, "or will you come on board?"
Then perceiving that she did not understand, he repeated the
question in German.
"I will come on board," she answered.
The Elsa was lying in the middle of the river, and the boat into
which Desiree stepped shot across the water without sound of oars.
The sailor was paddling it noiselessly at the stern. Desiree was
not unused to boats, and when they came alongside the Elsa she
climbed on board without help.
"This way," said the sailor, leading her towards the deckhouse where
a light burned dimly behind red curtains. He knocked at the door
and opened it without awaiting a reply. In the little cabin two men
sat at a table, and one of them was Louis d'Arragon dressed in the
rough clothes of a merchant seaman. He seemed to recognize Desiree
at once, though she still stood without the door, in the darkness.
Pages:
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95