Otherwise why should he have come to such a place?
Certainly not to lay in stores, for Pamlico Sound offered neither the resources nor facilities to be found in such ports as Boston, New York, Dover, Savannah, Wilmington in North Carolina, and Charleston in South Carolina.

What could he have procured with his piastres and bank-notes in the small markets of New-Berne?
This chief town of Craven County contained barely six thousand inhabitants.

Its commerce consisted principally in the exportation of grain, pigs, furniture, and naval munitions.

Besides, a few weeks previously, the schooner had loaded up for some destination which, as usual, was unknown.
Had this enigmatical personage then come solely for the purpose of visiting Healthful House?
Very likely.

There would have been nothing surprising in the fact, seeing that the establishment enjoyed a high and well-merited reputation.
Or perhaps the Count had been inspired by curiosity to meet Thomas Roch?
This curiosity would have been legitimate and natural enough in view of the universal renown of the French inventor.