Page:Twenty Thousand Verne Frith 1876.pdf/49

 the fossils, and the babiroussa would have been installed in his cage in the Jardin des Plantes, and been visited by all the curious people of Paris.”

“Just so, Conseil, and no doubt they are all laughing at us.”

“In reality,” replied Conseil quietly, “I think that they do laugh at us, Monsieur. And— May I say it?”

“You may.”

“Well, then, Monsieur has only got what he deserves.”

“Indeed!”

“When one has the honour to be a savant like Monsieur, one does not make oneself conspicuous—”

But Conseil never finished his compliment. In the midst of the universal silence a voice was heard. It was Ned Land’s voice, and Ned Land cried out:

“Hallo, there! There is our enemy, away on the weather beam!”