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44 "You are right," replied the Maltese captain, "and early to-morrow morning I will start for Odessa by the railway."

Then these two worthies withdrew from the crowd, and as they turned away, Kéraban called out to his servant,—

"Nizib," he said.

"Yes, sir!"

"Follow me to the counting-house."

"To the counting-house," replied Nizib.

"And you too, Van Mitten," added Kéraban.

"I?"

"And you also, Bruno."

"Yes, but—"

"We will go all together."

"Eh!" exclaimed Bruno, pricking up his ears.

"Yes; I have invited you to dinner at Scutari," said the Seigneur Kéraban to Van Mitten; "and, by Allah, at Scutari you shall dine—when we return."

"But we shall not be back for—how long?" said Bruno.

"Not for a month, a year, ten years, perhaps," replied Kéraban in a tone that admitted of no discussion. "You have accepted my invitation to dinner, and my dinner you shall eat!"

"It will have got cold by that time," muttered Bruno.

"Will you allow me, friend Kéraban—"

"I will allow you nothing, friend Van Mitten. Come."

So saying, Kéraban advanced a few steps towards the end of the promenade.

"We are quite unable to withstand this 'pig-headed' fellow," said Van Mitten to Bruno.

"But are you really going to yield to such caprice, sir?"

"Whether I remain here, or go elsewhere, it is all the same to me, so long as we do not touch Rotterdam," replied his master.

"But, sir—"

"And since I follow my friend Kéraban, you have no alternative but to follow me," continued Van Mitten.