"Upon my word," said Bougainville, "Strong, who christened them, could not have determined their bearing more accurately himself. You study geography, then, in your curé of Boulogne?"
"Oh, my friend, when I was young I always longed to be a missionary to the Indies.... I was born with the love of travel, and I would have given anything to go round the world ... in those days, but not now."
"Yes, I understand," says Bougainville, exchanging a glance with his two companions, "to-day it would put you out of your regular habits.... So you have travelled?"
"My friend, I have never been further than Versailles."
"Then you have not been to the sea."
"No."
"You have never seen a ship?"
"I have seen sails at Auxerre."
"That is something, but it can only give you a very imperfect idea of a frigate of sixty guns."
"I should think so," added the Abbé Rémy innocently. "So you say you went to the Malouines Isles, where the Government had authorised you to found a settlement. I have no doubt that you did so?"