Fighting for the Right | Page 8

Paris, but I am not so proficient as you may
think, though I can make my way with those who speak it," replied the
passenger, as he moved towards the door of the stateroom.
"And I can't speak the first word of it, for I have been a sailor all my
life, though I went through the naval academy somewhat hurriedly,"
continued the commander.
"Fortunately you don't need French on the quarter-deck;" and Christy
left the stateroom.
The captain went into his cabin, but came out before the passenger
could reach the deck. He informed Christy that he was directed to
heave short on the anchor and watch for a signal mentioned, which was

to be hoisted near the Battery. He might get under way at any minute.
Christy found the person of whom the captain had spoken in the waist.
He was dressed in a black suit, and looked more like a dandy than a
detective. He was apparently about forty years of age, rather slenderly
built, but with a graceful form. He wore a long black mustache, but no
other beard. He was pacing the deck, and seemed to be very uneasy,
possibly because he was all alone, for no one took any notice of him,
though the captain had received him very politely.
"Monsieur Gilfleur?" said Christy, walking up to him, and bowing as
politely as a Parisian.
"I am Mr. Gilfleur; have I the honor to address Lieutenant Passford?"
replied the Frenchman.
"I am Lieutenant Passford, though I have no official position on board
of this steamer."
"I am aware of it," added Mr. Gilfleur, as he chose to call himself,
taking a letter from the breast pocket of his coat, and handing it very
gracefully to Christy.
"Pardon me," added the young officer, as he opened the missive.
It was simply a letter of introduction from Captain Passford, intended
to assure him of the identity of the French detective. Mr. Gilfleur
evidently prided himself on his knowledge of the English language, for
he certainly spoke it fluently and correctly, though with a little of the
accent of his native tongue.
"I am very happy to meet you, Mr. Gilfleur," said Christy in French, as
he extended his hand to the other, who promptly took it, and from that
moment seemed to lose all his embarrassment.
"I thank you, Mr. Passford, for this pleasant reception, for it is possible
that we may have a great deal of business together, and I hope you have
confidence in me."

"Unlimited confidence, sir, since my father heartily indorses you."
"I thank you, sir, and I am sure we shall be good friends, though I am
not a gentleman like you, Mr. Passford."
"You are my equal in every respect, for though my father is a very rich
man, I am not. But we are all equals in this country."
"I don't know about that," said the Frenchman, with a Parisian shrug of
the shoulders. "Your father has treated me very kindly, and I have
heard a great deal about his brave and accomplished son," said Mr.
Gilfleur, with a very deferential bow.
"Spare me!" pleaded Christy, with a deprecatory smile and a shake of
the head.
"You are very modest, Mr. Passford, and I will not offend you. I am not
to speak of our mission before the Chateaugay is out of sight of land,"
said the detective, looking into the eyes of the young man with a gaze
which seemed to reach the soul, for he was doubtless measuring the
quality and calibre of his associate in the mission, as he called it, in
which both were engaged. "I knew your father very well in Paris," he
added, withdrawing his piercing gaze.
"Then you are the gentleman who found the stewardess of the Bellevite
when she ran away with a bag of French gold at Havre?" said Christy,
opening his eyes.
"I have the honor to be that person," replied Mr. Gilfleur, with one of
his graceful bows. "It was a difficult case, for the woman was
associated with one of the worst thieves of Paris, and it took me a
month to run them down."
"Though I was a small boy, I remember it very well, for I was on board
of the Bellevite at the time," replied Christy. "I know that he was very
enthusiastic in his praise of the wonderful skill of the person who
recovered the money and sent the two thieves to prison. I understand
now why my father sent to Paris for you when he needed a very skilful

person of your profession."
"Thank you, Mr. Passford; you know me now, and we shall be good
friends."
"No doubt of it; but here comes the captain, and I have a word to say to
him,"