Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/144



CHAPTER XV.

A NOTE OF INVITATION.

I awoke next morning I found I had slept twelve hours. Conseil came as usual to inquire “how Monsieur had passed the night,” and to offer his services. He had left the Canadian sleeping like a man who had never done such a thing in his life before.

I let Conseil chatter away, but did not reply. I was thinking of the absence of Captain Nemo, and I was hoping to see him again.

I was soon dressed in my garments of byssus, upon which Conseil commented freely. I informed him that the material was made from the silky fibres which attach the “jambouneaux”—a sort of shell-fish very common in the Mediterranean—to the rocks. Formerly stockings and gloves were made of these filaments, and proved to be very warm and soft. The crew of the Nautilus could thus clothe themselves at will, independently of cotton, wool, or silkworms. When I was dressed I proceeded to the saloon. It was empty.

I plunged at once into conchology. I also inspected the large collection of aquatic plants of the rarest kinds,