"Even," replied M. de Morin, and he spoke very slowly and dwelt on each word so that his hearer might be taken as little as possible by surprise, "even supposing that it should be a question of undertaking with me this journey I am contemplating, or, in other words, of accompanying me to Africa?"
The young Doctor was evidently not prepared for this proposal, and could not, in spite of the oratorical precautions of M. de Morin, repress a movement of surprise. Nevertheless, he replied at once—
"I would go with you. To what part of Africa are you going?"
"Equatorial Africa."
"You know that it is terribly unhealthy? You may lose your skin there. Pardon the expression, it is proverbial."
"And it is true," replied the young painter. "But we have just come to the conclusion, I think, that in Paris it is possible, under certain conditions, and with certain proclivities, to lose one's honour."
M. Delange took the hint, and hastened to say—
"The unhealthiness of Africa does not alarm me as far as I myself am concerned. I spoke solely in your interest; I am a doctor, and so free from all fear of diseases."
"Then, speaking generally, you will not raise any serious objections to accompany my friends and me?"
"Certainly not, if you require me so to do. In what capacity shall I join you?"