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“ Tell the captain of the Cashmere they are my letters , and to take care of them . They are for Germany — Brême viâ London . ” “ I can’t speak to the captain , Mess Lethierry . ” “ Why not ? ” “ The Cashmere is not at the quay . ” “ Ah ! ” “ She is in the roads . ” “ Ay , true ; on account of the sea . ” “ I can only speak to the man who takes the things aboard . ” “ You will tell him , then , to look to the letters . ” “ Very well , Mess Lethierry . ” “ At what time does the Cashmere sail ? ” “ At twelve . ” “ The tide will flow at noon ; she will have it against her . ” “ But she will have the wind , ” answered the lad . “ Boy , ” said Mess Lethierry , pointing with his forefinger at the engine in the sloop , “ do you see that ? There is something which laughs at winds and tides . ” The boy put the letters in his pocket , took up the handles of the barrow again , and went on his way towards the town . Mess Lethierry called “ Douce ! Grace ! ” Grace opened the door a little way . “ What is it , Mess ? ” “ Come in and wait a moment . ” Mess Lethierry took a sheet of paper , and began to write . If Grace , standing behind him , had been curious , and had leaned forward while he was writing , she might have read as follows : — “ I have written to Brême for the timber . I have appointments all the morning with carpenters for the estimate . The rebuilding will go on fast . You must go yourself to the Deanery for a licence . It is my wish that the marriage should take place as soon as possible ; immediately would be better . I am busy about the Durande . Do you be busy about Déruchette . ” He dated it and signed “ Lethierry . ” He did not take the trouble to seal it , but merely folded it in four , and handed it to Grace , saying : “ Take that to Gilliatt . ” “ To the Bû de la Rue ? ” “ To the Bû de la Rue . ” BOOK III THE DEPARTURE OF THE CASHMERE I THE HAVELET NEAR THE CHURCH When there is a crowd at St . Sampson , St . Peter’s Port is soon deserted . A point of curiosity at a given place is like an air - pump . News travel fast in small places . Going to see the funnel of the Durande under Mess Lethierry’s window had been , since sunrise , the business of the Guernsey folks . Every other event was eclipsed by this . The death of the Dean of St . Asaph was forgotten , together with the question of the Rev . Mr . Caudray , his sudden riches , and the departure of the Cashmere . The machinery of the Durande brought back from the Douvres rocks was the order of the day . People were incredulous . The shipwreck had appeared extraordinary , the salvage seemed impossible . Everybody hastened to assure himself of the truth by the help of his own eyes . Business of every kind was suspended . Long strings of townsfolk with their families , from the “ Vesin ” up to the “ Mess , ” men and women , gentlemen , mothers with children , infants with dolls , were coming by every road or pathway to see “ the thing to be seen ” at the Bravées , turning their backs upon St . Peter’s Port .
Назад Сторінка 269 з 287 Сторінка 269 з 287 Вперед Читайте далі з перекладом Створіть безкоштовний акаунт: 7 днів Pro, далі 20 перекладів слів на день або платний тариф.
