"No; for when you have passed Cape Horn you approach the Indies."
"Besides," continued Glenarvan with the greatest gravity, "as long as you are at the Indies, what difference does it make whether they are the East or the West?"
"The inhabitants of the Pampas of Patagonia are Indians as well as the natives of the Punjab."
"Eh! my lord," exclaimed Paganel, "that is a reason I should never have imagined!"
"And then, my dear Paganel, you know that you can gain the gold medal in any country whatever. There is something to do, to seek, to discover, everywhere, in the chains of the Cordilleras as well as the mountains of Thibet."
"But the course of the Yaroo-tsang-bo-tsoo?"
"Certainly. You can replace that by the Rio Colorado. This is a river very little known, and one of those which flow on the map too much according to the fancy of the geographer."
"I know it, my dear lord; there are errors of several degrees. I do not doubt that at my request the Society would have sent me to Patagonia as well as to India; but I did not think of it."
"The result of your continual abstraction."
"Well, Monsieur Paganel, shall you accompany us?" asked Lady Helena in her most persuasive tone.
"I inform you that we shall pass through the Strait of Magellan," continued Glenarvan.
"Port Famine!" cried the Frenchman, assailed on all sides; "that port so celebrated in geographical fasts!"
"Consider also, Monsieur Paganel," continued Lady Helena, "that in this enterprise you will have the right to associate the name of France with that of Scotland."
"A geographer may be very serviceable to our expedition; and what is more noble than for science to enlist in the service of humanity?"
"Believe me, try chance, or rather Providence. Imitate us. It has sent us this document; we have started. It has cast you on board the Duncan; do not leave her."
"And do you, indeed, wish me, my good friends?" replied Paganel. "Well, you desire me to stay very much?"
"And you, Paganel, you are dying to stay," retorted Glenarvan.
"Truly," cried the geographer, "but I fear I am very indiscreet."
Thus far the Duncan had acquitted herself admirably: in every way her powers for steaming or sailing had been sufficiently tested, and her captain and passengers were alike satisfied with her performance and with one another.