Idea: d'Artois doesn't want Raoul on the relief expedition because he has become ill or [heroically?] injured during their open-boat trip. Instead he finds himself sent home by coastal steamer and with money for the trip -- in company with another, garrulous, sailor who manages to communicate cheerfully with people in pidgin Swedish and/or gestures, thus involving Raoul in the business of the mysterious French woman at an eating-house one night.

This makes my story (and Raoul's future!) a lot simpler :-)