you.'

"At this Jacques began to howl, for his father's face was all
distorted. His mother was rigid as an oar.

"'If you shout, if you stir, if you do not sit still on that stool,'
said Pierre, aiming the gun at him, 'I will shoot you like a dog.'

"Jacques was mute as a fish. The mother said nothing.

"'Here,' said Pierre, 'is a piece of paper which wrapped a Spanish
gold piece. That piece of gold was in your mother's bed; she alone
knew where it was. I found that paper in the water when I landed here
to-day. You gave a piece of Spanish gold this night to Mere Fleurant,
and your mother's piece is no longer in her bed. Explain all this.'

"Jacques said he had not taken his mother's money, and that the gold
piece was one he had brought from Nantes.

"'I am glad of it,' said Pierre; 'now prove it.'

"'I had it all along.'

"'You did not take the gold piece belonging to your mother?'

"'No.'

"'Will you swear it on your eternal life?'

"He was about to swear; his mother raised her eyes to him, and said:--