His voice became light, with a playful tone, giving the story an easy start.
Lionel first described the bright scenery of Port Royal, and the governor's beautiful and charming, yet rebellious daughter, Elizabeth Swann.
Lionel highlighted her longing for freedom and her budding affection for the blacksmith Will Turner.
Though of humble status, Will Turner was very upright and brave, and Elizabeth had rescued him from the sea.
The two had been childhood sweethearts.
To the late 19th-century audience, this setup sounded both romantic and thrilling with its challenge to class.
Lionel lowered his voice:
"However, Miss Elizabeth didn't know that the gold coin belonging to Will, which she had secretly hidden, was no ordinary coin—it was a cursed Aztec gold coin, a gift from hell."
Next came the appearance of Captain Jack Sparrow.
Lionel used extremely vivid body language to imitate how Jack, with flair, steered a sinking small boat into Port Royal and stepped onto the dock…
This series of eccentric and amusing actions immediately elicited a burst of light laughter in the entertainment room.
Especially when Lionel imitated Jack's signature orchid-finger gesture, even the usually serious Edmond de Goncourt couldn't help but laugh.
Maupassant leaned in and whispered to Huysmans, his mustache twitching with interest:
"This pirate is quite something."
The story quickly progressed—Elizabeth's gold coin accidentally fell into the sea, made contact with the seawater, and issued the curse's summons.
When Lionel described the Black Pearl breaking through the thick fog, appearing silently like a ghost on the moonlit sea, the relaxed atmosphere instantly solidified.
Several ladies instinctively leaned towards their male companions.
The cursed crew came ashore, their undead forms particularly terrifying, and their movements silent.
Lionel focused on depicting the eerie scene—
"They were invulnerable; bullets passed through their bodies as if through a mist, carrying away only a few tattered rags, but harming them not in the least."
The truth of the curse was revealed in a cave on the island—
The greedy betrayer Barbossa and his crew, having stolen the Aztec gold coins, were subjected to eternal punishment.
"They were immortal, yet no longer alive. They felt no pain, no joy. Wine tasted bland, delicious food like wax, and even when touching gold and jewels, they felt nothing.
They existed between life and death, the most tragic of prisoners!"
This alternative interpretation of "immortality" prompted Zola and other writers to begin their literary analysis again.
In their view, Lionel was definitely not just telling an adventure story; he was now lashing out at human greed.
Lionel narrated the subsequent plot with perfect pacing.
To save Elizabeth, Will had to cooperate with Captain Jack, whom he had just betrayed; Jack's "Pirate Code" rhetoric was both comical and eerie.
They found Jack's old friends, recruited a motley crew, stole the British Navy's fastest new ship, the Interceptor, and set sail…
Every twist drew gasps or low chuckles from the audience.
And when the Black Pearl and the Interceptor chased and battled in a storm, Lionel's description was exceptionally vivid.
"Cannonballs whistled, wood splinters flew, and Captain Jack stood on the pitching bow, not calmly commanding, but as if performing an elegant dance.
He dodged the scattered debris, yet his mouth kept mumbling, 'This isn't good at all'!…"
This sense of humor, maintained even in critical moments, made Captain Jack Sparrow's character even more memorable.
The plot on the deserted island was even more brilliant.
Elizabeth, with her wisdom and courage, maneuvered with Jack, cleverly intoxicating most of the pirates, creating an opportunity for Will's rescue.
Her independence and decisiveness won the approval of many ladies present.
And when Will bravely rescued her, and Jack used this opportunity to try and claim the treasure for himself, the audience gained a more comprehensive understanding of these three characters—
Will was loyal and brave, Elizabeth intelligent and strong, and Jack was morally ambiguous, with a unique charm.
The climax unfolded in the treasure cave.
Barbossa raged when he discovered Elizabeth's blood could not break the curse, and Will, to save his beloved, did not hesitate to admit he was "Bootstrap Bill's" son…
Finally, Barbossa, breaking his word, uttered the famous line:
"Welcome to the Caribbean!"
Elizabeth lit the rum to create chaos and a signal, while Jack reacted spontaneously…
Lionel, with his superb oral storytelling skills, skillfully wove together multiple plotlines and battles.
He completely captivated the audience!
When Will and Elizabeth fought side-by-side amidst the chaos, some clenched their fists;
When Barbossa threw the two onto a deserted island, a murmur of indignation arose;
When Elizabeth lit the sky-high signal fire, admiration gleamed in the eyes of several ladies;
And when Commodore Norrington appeared with the Navy, clashing with the pirates, and Jack and Barbossa had their final confrontation, the entire entertainment room fell silent…
Only Lionel's voice and the faint sound of waves outside the window could be heard.
The most spectacular moment was the lifting of the curse—
"The last pirate gold coin, stained with Will Turner's blood, finally returned to the stone chest… Under the moonlight, a strange change occurred in Barbossa and his crew!
They were no longer hideous skeletons; their skin regained color, their hearts began to beat again, they could feel the cool sea breeze, smell the pungent gunpowder…
They were finally alive again!"
However, coming back to life also meant they could be killed.
"At the very moment Barbossa regained his senses, Captain Jack pulled out the only pistol left to him when he was marooned on the island, a sly smile on his face, 'I've kept this bullet for thirteen years.'"
Lionel imitated Jack's tone:
"'Now, return to sender.'"
"Bang!"
As the simulated gunshot sounded from Lionel's mouth, it was as if a bullet had truly pierced Barbossa's heart.
Almost simultaneously, a collective sigh of relief filled the entertainment room, followed by a burst of enthusiastic applause!
The ending was equally satisfying and left a lingering impression.
Will and Elizabeth, the lovers, finally got married; Captain Jack successfully escaped the gallows, jumped into the sea, and climbed onto his Black Pearl.
He took the helm and compass from the first mate, and once again sailed towards the boundless ocean.
"...He stood at the stern, watching Commodore Norrington and Governor Swann, who had come to arrest him on the dock, and gave an elegant farewell bow.
Then, he adjusted course, the Black Pearl unfurled its ghostly sails, and, carried by the wind, sped towards the free and unknown sea…"
The story ended, and the entertainment room was eerily silent.
Everyone was still immersed in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" world Lionel had created.
Immediately—
An unprecedented burst of applause and cheers erupted in the cabin!
The sound was so enthusiastic, so sustained, it almost lifted the ceiling, drowning out all ocean waves and machine roars.
The gentlemen forgot their composure, clapping vigorously until their palms were red;
The ladies' cheeks were flushed, their eyes sparkling with excitement;
Even the crew members standing in the corner couldn't help but grin and clap their hands forcefully.
Especially when Captain Jack Sparrow ultimately used his wit to thwart the schemes of the British Navy and the East India Company, finally reclaiming the Black Pearl and getting away scot-free…
On this ship, almost entirely filled with French people, this ending received an almost fanatical endorsement from the entire audience; they found it incredibly exhilarating!
What could make the French happier than seeing "one of their own" use unrestrained nonchalance and ingenious methods to make a fool of the burgeoning British Empire?
Although Lionel never stated Captain Jack Sparrow's nationality, since it was a French-speaking novelist who created this character, and his actions and demeanor aligned with the French imagination of a "genius madman," then this captain was French!
Zola, Maupassant, Daudet, Goncourt, Huysmans, and others were utterly stunned, exchanging incredulous glances, even forgetting to applaud.
They had not expected Lionel to be able to tell such an "unconventional" yet utterly brilliant "pirate legend"!
Although it clearly followed the path of a bestseller, aiming for excitement, dramatic plot twists, and a mass audience… somewhat like The Count of Monte Cristo or The Mysteries of Paris.
But the vividness of its characters, the cleverness of its plot developments, the grandeur of its setting, and the thrilling effect created by its combination with mysterious and eerie undead curses…
It was completely unmatched by other bestsellers of this era!
Even Alexandre Dumas had never created such a charismatic "anti-hero" as "Jack Sparrow."
It also surpassed Jules Verne, the science fiction novelist who wrote many maritime-themed works, not to mention Eugène Sue, who wrote The Mysteries of Paris.
What surprised them even more was that Lionel had even injected his consistent anti-colonial ideas into this seemingly shallow adventure story.
The story depicted the greed, brutality, and hypocrisy of the East India Company and British colonists, and also glorified a "pirate-esque" spirit of freedom.
All of this gave the adventure story a critical depth and edge, which was simply incredible!
Maupassant was the first to recover from the shock:
"My God, Lion… you… you scoundrel! Captain Jack! Damn it, I love this character so much!
He broke all the rules! Yet you can't bring yourself to hate him; in fact, you love him to death! How did your brain even develop? To design such a character!
He excitedly grabbed Lionel's arm, shaking it hard, his mustache bristling up to his ears.
Zola also slowly exhaled: "Lionel, you have proven that the charm of a story lies not in whether its subject matter is 'highbrow' or 'lowbrow'.
But in the way it is told, in the vitality of its characters, and in the author's thought. The curse's setting is especially ingenious!
Barbossa and his crew are not seeking wealth, but sensation, the qualification to be 'alive' again and then to 'die'!
This is far more profound than merely searching for treasure!"
That evening, just as Lionel was about to tell another maritime story, the audience below refused, shouting in unison:
"Jack Sparrow! Jack Sparrow! Jack Sparrow!… We want to hear Jack Sparrow's story!"
Maupassant burst out laughing:
"Lion, do you hear that? This is the voice of the people!"
(End of Chapter)