More than once Jean Jacques was moved to tears, as the Ananias of Cadiz
told his stories of persecution.
So that one day, in sudden generosity, he paid the captain the necessary
sum to transfer the refugees from the forecastle to his own select
portion of the steamer, where he was so conspicuous a figure among a
handful of lower-level merchant folk and others of little mark who were
going to Quebec. To these latter Jean Jacques was a gift of heaven, for
he knew so much, and seemed to know so much more, and could give them the
information they desired. His importance lured him to pose as a seigneur,
though he had no claim to the title. He did not call himself Seigneur in
so many words, but when others referred to him as the Seigneur, and it
came to his ears, he did not correct it; and when he was addressed as
such he did not reprove.
Thus, when he brought the two refugees from the forecastle and assured
his fellow-passengers that they were Spanish folk of good family exiled
by persecution, his generosity was acclaimed, even while all saw he was
enamoured of Carmen. Once among the first-class passengers, father and
daughter maintained reserve, and though there were a few who saw that
they were not very far removed above peasants, still the dress of the
girl, which was good--she had been a maid in a great nobleman's
family--was evidence in favour of the father's story.
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