"Ah, ah! That worthy Jonathan is yelping, I suppose?"
"Louder than ever."
"Look at that! And why, may I ask?"
"You can guess it."
"Nearly so; but no matter, out with it."
"You are aware that you have made a number of enemies here?"
"Well, it was not my own fault."
"That is true! Well, these enemies are stirring, and making loud remarks."
"About what?"
"Why, you know people can always find something to turn into scandal. They say that the expedition will fail, that you are reduced to expedients, and that you do not know how to escape from your present position."