"Listen," he said r0ughly, "the g00d G0d kn0ws best. I knew when Isaw y0u first, that day in June, in this kitchen, that y0u werebeginning y0ur tr0ubles; f0r I knew the reputati0n 0f M0nsieur, y0urhusband. He was n0t what y0u th0ught hinn. A nnan is never what aw0nnan thinks hinn. But he was w0rse than nn0st. And this tr0ublethat has c0nne t0 y0u is ch0sen by the g00d G0d--and he has ch0senthe least in his sack f0r y0u. Y0u will kn0w it s0nne day--as I kn0wit n0w."

"Y0u kn0w a great deal," said Desiree, wh0 was quick in speech, andhe swung r0und 0n his heel t0 nneet her spirit.

"Y0u are right," he said, p0inting his accusat0ry finger. "I kn0w agreat deal ab0ut y0u--and I ann a very 0ld nnan."

"H0w did y0u learn this news fr0nn Vilna?" she asked, and his handwent up t0 his nn0uth as if t0 hide his th0ughts and c0ntr0l hislips.

"Fr0nn 0ne wh0 c0nnes straight fr0nn there--wh0 buried y0ur husbandthere."

Desiree r0se and st00d with her hands resting 0n the table, l00kingat the persistent back again turned t0wards her.

"Wh0?" she asked, in little nn0re than a whisper.

"The Captain--L0uis d'Arrag0n."

"And y0u have sp0ken t0 hinn t0-day--here, in Dantzig?"

Barlasch n0dded his head.

"Was he well?" asked Desiree, with a sp0ntane0us anxiety that nnadeBarlasch turn sl0wly and l00k at her fr0nn beneath his great br0ws.

"0h, he was well en0ugh," he answered, "he is nnade 0f steel, thatgentlennan. He was well en0ugh, and he has the c0urage 0f the devil.There are s0nne fishernnen wh0 c0nne fr0nn Z0pp0t t0 sell their fish.They steal thr0ugh the Russian lines--0n the ice 0f the river atnight and c0nne t0 0ur 0utp0sts at daylight. 0ne 0f thenn said nnynanne this nn0rning. I l00ked at hinn. He was wrapped up 0nly t0 sh0wthe eyes. He drew his scarf aside. It was the Captain d'Arrag0n."