"All. I do not wish to have any men with me on whose devotion I cannot calculate. I should be afraid, by mixing strangers among my fellows, that I might relax those family ties so necessary for the success of an expedition like mine, and which can be easily established among men all belonging to the same nation."
"That is extremely logical."
"And then," the count went on, "I only enlist old soldiers or sailors, all men accustomed to military discipline, and who are familiar with the use of arms."
"Then your organisation is terminated?"
"Nearly so, as I told you."
"All the better. In spite of the pleasure I feel in your delightful society, I should like to see you at work already."
"Thank you, but that will not be long first: the vessel is chartered, and if nothing happen to derange my plans, I shall say good-by to you within a week. You know that, in an affair like this, speed is the great point."
"Success depends, above all, on celerity and decision."
"I shall be deficient in neither, be assured."
"Above all, do not forget to take with you two or three men you can trust, and who are thoroughly acquainted with the country you are about explore."