Fie, then, my friend! where is your
patriotism?"
"These English young ladies," said the Frenchman, unabashed, "are very
fine, in my opinion--very fine indeed; and they could be made to dress,
which is sincerely an external thing. By occasion, I have seen the very
most belle, and charming and adorable of all the creatures ever made by
the good God. And if she was to say to me, 'Abandon France, my Captain,
and become my good husband'--and she has the money also--the fair France
would go to the bottom, and the good ship Charron hoist the Union-jack."
"This becomes serious:" Carne had long learned to treat his French
colleague with a large contempt: "I shall have to confine you in the
Yellow Jar, my friend. But what young lady has bewitched you so, and led
your most powerful mind astray?"
"I will tell you. I will make no secret of it. You have none of those
lofty feelings, but you will be able in another to comprehend them. It
is the daughter of the Coast-Defender--Admiral Charles Sir Darling."
"Admiral Darling has two daughters. Which of them has the distinguished
honour of winning the regard of Captain Charron?"
"If there are two, it is so much more better. If I succeed not with one,
I will try with the other. But the one who has made me captive for the
present is the lady with the dark hair done up like this."
In a moment Charron had put up his hair, which was thick but short, into
a double sheaf; and Carne knew at once that it was Faith whose charms
had made havoc of the patriotism of his colleague.
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