“True!” muttered Alexis.
“The Grand Duke has given his permission, if you desire to go,” said Hal, “and we would indeed be glad to have you. We have grown very fond of you.”
“And I of you,” replied Alexis.
“In France,” said Chester, “there are no such men as you. You would be a veritable Hercules, a man among men. Brave men there are there in plenty, but none such as you.”
His vanity thus appealed to, Alexis saw the matter in a different light. He slapped one great fist down upon the table in a mighty blow.
“I’ll go!” he shouted.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
ON NEUTRAL SOIL.
“Surely you are not afraid, Alexis?” exclaimed Chester.
“Afraid!” shouted Alexis. “Of course I am not afraid. But”–he eyed the large aëroplane dubiously–“but a man was not made to fly about in the air like a bird, particularly a man of my weight. Besides, I do not like great height. If I stand upon a precipice, I am immediately struck with the notion that I must jump off. If I jumped from an aëroplane I might upset it.”