"I believe, M. Versál, that the Jules Verne is as safe and comfortable, and proportionately as well provisioned, as your Ark."
"So you call it the Jules Verne?" returned Cosmo, smiling in his turn.
"We were proud to give it that name, and its conduct has proved that it is worthy of it."
"But you will surely come aboard and shake hands, and let us offer you a little hospitality," said Cosmo.
"I should be extremely happy to pay my compliments to the ladies," responded De Beauxchamps, "but I must postpone that pleasure for the present. In the meantime, however, I should be glad if you would lower a landing stage, and permit me to send aboard the seventh member of our party, who, I venture to think, may find the Ark a more comfortable abode than our submersible."
"And who may that person be?"
"The King of England."
Exclamations of surprise and wonder were heard on all sides.
"Yes," resumed the Frenchman, "we picked up his majesty the first day after the deluge began to descend from the sky."
"I will lower a ladder at once," Cosmo called out, and immediately ran down to the lowest deck, commanding his men to make haste.