"By my faith, I should not have thought of that," replied MacNabb. "My compliments, Paganel, my sincere compliments!"
TABLE-TALK IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC.
Paganel was applauded, but did not lose a single mouthful. He did not, however, notice one peculiarity observed by Glenarvan, and that was the young captain's attentions to his neighbor, Mary Grant. A slight sign from Lady Helena to her husband told him how matters stood. He gazed at the two young people with affectionate sympathy, and finally addressed the captain, but upon a different subject.
"How did you succeed with your voyage, captain?" he inquired.
"Excellently," replied the captain; "only I must inform your lordship that we did not return by way of the Strait of Magellan."
"What!" cried Paganel, "you doubled Cape Horn, and I was not there!"
"Hang yourself!" said the major.
"Selfish fellow! you give me this advice in order that you may share my rope!" retorted the geographer.
"Well, my dear Paganel," added Glenarvan, "unless we are endowed with ubiquity, we cannot be everywhere. Since you crossed the Pampas, you could not at the same time double Cape Horn."
"Nevertheless, I am sorry," replied the geographer.