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Rigolette entered the prison to see Louise, and Fleur-de-Marie got into a hackney-coach with old Seraphin, who ordered the coachman to go to Batignolles, and to stop at the city gate. A cross-road led from this place almost in a straight line to the banks of the Seine, not far from the Ravageurs' Island.
For it had been to him, Nicholas Martial, that Ferrand had applied when the idea struck him to be rid of his housekeeper and Fleur-de-Marie at a blow. His family were what are called ravageurs, that is dredgers, living on what they could pick up out of the mud of the Seine.
Listen again: this child, Fleur-de-Marie, once abandoned, crosses my path she inspires me with fears; I have had her killed!" "You? How? where?" "A few days since near Asnieres Bridge, by Ravageurs' Island. One named Martial drowned her in a boat. Are these details sufficient? do you believe me?" "Oh! demon from hell: you alarm, yet attract me. You inspire me. What is, then, your power?"
They, as well as the debardeurs, and the dechireurs of boats, remain almost the entire day plunged in the water to their waists, to follow their trade. The debardeurs bring to land floating wood. The dechireurs knock to pieces the rafts which bring down the wood. Quite as aquatic as the preceding operatives, the labor of ravageurs has a very different object.
'Rather! 'A woman came to your island this morning; what did she say? 'That you had something to say to me from M. Bradamanti. 'Do you wish to gain some money? 'Yes, much. 'Have you a boat? 'Four! it is our business; boatmen and ravageurs from father to son, at your service. 'I'll tell you what is to be done if you are not afraid 'Afraid of what? 'To see some one drowned by accident; only it is necessary to assist the accident.
Sometimes he would row with frantic speed, free and joyous, through the glowing sunlight on the stream; sometimes, he would wander along the coast, questioning the sailors, chatting with the ravageurs, or junk gatherers, or stretched at full length amid the irises and tansy he would lie for hours watching the frail insects that play on the surface of the stream, water spiders, or white butterflies, dragon flies, chasing each other amid the willow leaves, or frogs asleep on the lily-pads.
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