"And as you may be spoiled amongst us, why, to-morrow you shall leave this place, and never return to it."
Martial looked at his mother with surprise, then, after a moment's silence, said, "Was it for this that you tried to get up a quarrel with me at supper?"
"Yes, to show you what you might expect if you would stay here in spite of us,--a hell upon earth,--I tell you, a hell! Every day a quarrel and blows--struggles. And we shall not be alone as we were this, evening; we shall have friends who will help us. And you will not hold out for a week."
"In spite of you, of Calabash, of Nicholas, and all blackguards like him."
From the lips of this woman, with her repulsive and ferocious look, these words were horrible.
"I tell you I will remain here until I find the means of gaining my livelihood elsewhere with the children. Alone, I should not long be unemployed, for I could return to the woods; but, on their account, I may be some time in finding what I am seeking for. In the meanwhile, here I remain."
"Oh, you remain until the moment when you can take away the children?"
"When I say to them 'Come!' they will come; and quickly too, I promise you."
The widow shrugged her shoulders, and replied:
"Listen! I told you a short time since that, even if you were to live for a hundred years, you should recollect this night. I will explain those words. But, before I do so, have you quite made up your mind?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes! A thousand times over, yes!"
"In a little while, however, you will say 'No! No! No! A thousand times, no!' Listen to me attentively! Do you know the trade your brother follows?"
"I have my suspicions; but I do not wish to know."
"He commits robberies at night, with forcible entry,--burglary; a case of the galleys. We receive what he plunders. If we are discovered, we shall be sentenced to the same punishment as he is, as receivers, and you too. They will sweep away the whole family, and the children will be turned out into the streets, where they will learn the trade of their father and grandfather as well as here."
"I apprehended as a receiver,--as your accomplice? Where's the proofs?"
"No one knows how you live. You are vagabondising on the water; you have the reputation of a bad fellow; you dwell with us, and who will believe that you are ignorant of our thefts and receivings?"