Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/353

94 his attempt to escape; I felt that our progress was no longer being made under ordinary conditions.

The door of the saloon now opened, and Captain Nemo.He perceived me, and without preamble, adappeared, addressed me.

“Ah! professor, I was seeking you.your Spanish history?”

One might know the history of one’s own country perfectly, while, under the conditions in which I then was-mind upset, and head in a whirl—one could not recall a fact.

“Well,” repeated Captain Nemo, “did you hear my question? Do you know Spanish history ?” question? “Not very well,” I replied.

“There are savants then,” replied the captain, “ who know! - Well, sit down, for I am going to relate to youa curious episode in this history.”

The captain lay down upon a sofa ; mechanically I sat beside him.

“Listen attentively, Monsieur, if you please,” he said.

“This history will interest you, for it will answer a question you have, no doubt, not yet been able to solve.”

“J am listening, captain,” I replied, not knowing what he was leading up to, and whether he was about to touch upon our projected escape.

“Tf you have no objection,” said Captain Nemo, “we will go back to the year 1702.You are aware that at that time your King Louis XIV., thinking that his gesture was enough to bring the Pyrenees into his kingdom again, imposed his grandson, the Duke of Anjou, on the Spaniards. This prince, who reigned more or less badly under the name of Philip V., had to do with a strong party abroad.

“Tn fact, in the preceding ycar Holland, Austria, and England had concluded a treaty of alliance at the Hague