"They belong to the English," said the hostess.
"Good," said the professor, and swallowed four.
Just then we returned.
"But there are only sixteen eggs," said we.
"The professor has eaten the others," said the woman, pointing.
In a minute the professor wished that he had not. Jan took the opportunity of saying a few things which had been boiling within him. He accused the wretched man of interference in assuming control of the expedition; he said that he was a mere hanger-on, and a useless and selfish one at that.
The professor wilted. He made a thousand apologies, and finally ran off wringing his fat hands, found with great difficulty four more eggs and cast them into the boiling water.
"There," he said, "you can have your four eggs."
"It's not the eggs," answered Jan, "it's you."