Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/28

 was thirty years of age, and his age was to his master's as fifteen to twenty, so I need not add that I was forty years old. But Conseil had one fault. A strict formalist, he never addressed me except in the third person—enough to set your teeth on edge!

“Conseil,” I repeated, as I began, with feverish hands, to make preparations for departure. Certainly, I was sure of this devoted fellow. In ordinary circumstances I never asked him whether it would suit him or not to accompany me in my travels; but this time it was upon an expedition which might be indefinitely prolonged, and hazardous, in the pursuit of an animal capable of crunching a frigate like a nutshell. There was need of reflection in this, even for the most impassible man in the world. What would Conseil say?

“Conseil,” I cried, for the third time.

Conseil appeared.

“Did Monsieur call?” he asked as he entered.

“Yes, my lad. Get my things and your own ready. We start in two hours.”

“Just as Monsieur pleases,” replied Conseil calmly.

“There is not an instant to lose. Pack up my trunk quickly.”

“And Monsieur’s collections?” asked Conseil.

“We will see about those later.”

“What! the archiotherium, the hyracotherium, the oreodons, the cheropotamus, and the other specimens?”

“The hotel people will take care of them.”

“And the babiroussa?”

“They will keep it during our absence. Besides, I will leave orders to forward our menagerie to France.

“We are not returning to Paris, then?” said Conseil.