I saw that we had yet a week to sail, my head was relieved, but not my heart—I knew not why.
"'It's no joking matter with the Directory about the article obedience,' said I. 'Well, I am all straight this time. Time has passed so quickly, that I had completely forgotten that.'
"Well, sir, there we remained, all three of us, with our noses in the air, looking up at that letter, as if it could speak. What struck me forcibly was that the sun, as it shone through the bull's-eye, fell upon the glass of the clock, and lighting the spot, made the great red seal and the other small ones appear like the features of a face in the midst of fire.
"Would n't one say that its eyes were coming out of its head?' said I, to amuse them.
"'Oh, dearest!' said the girl, shuddering, 'they look like spots of blood!'
"'Nonsense,' said her husband, taking her in his arms, 'you deceive yourself, Laura; it looks like a wedding invitation. Come and rest yourself—come! Why do you trouble yourself about that letter?'
"They hurried off as if a ghost were after them, and went on deck.
"I remained alone with the big letter, and I remember that, as I smoked my pipe, I kept my gaze fixed on it as if it had riveted my eyes by meeting them, like those of a snake. Its great
