Chapter 10. The Man of the Waters

           Itwasthecommanderofthevesselwhothusspoke.

           Atthesewords,NedLandrosesuddenly.Thesteward,nearlystrangled,totteredoutonasignfromhismaster.Butsuchwasthepowerofthecommanderonboard,thatnotagesturebetrayedtheresentmentwhichthismanmusthavefelttowardstheCanadian.Conseilinterestedinspiteofhimself,Istupefied,awaitedinsilencetheresultofthisscene.

           Thecommander,leaningagainstthecornerofatablewithhisarmsfolded,scanneduswithprofoundattention.Didhehesitatetospeak?DidheregretthewordswhichhehadjustspokeninFrench?Onemightalmostthinkso.

           Aftersomemomentsofsilence,whichnotoneofusdreamedofbreaking,"Gentlemen,"saidhe,inacalmandpenetratingvoice,"IspeakFrench,English,German,andLatinequallywell.Icould,therefore,haveansweredyouatourfirstinterview,butIwishedtoknowyoufirst,thentoreflect.Thestorytoldbyeachone,entirelyagreeinginthemainpoints,convincedmeofyouridentity.IknownowthatchancehasbroughtbeforemeM.PierreAronnax,ProfessorofNaturalHistoryattheMuseumofParis,entrustedwithascientificmissionabroad,Conseil,hisservant,andNedLand,ofCanadianorigin,harpooneronboardthefrigateAbrahamLincolnofthenavyoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica."

           Ibowedassent.Itwasnotaquestionthatthecommanderputtome.Thereforetherewasnoanswertobemade.Thismanexpressedhimselfwithperfectease,withoutanyaccent.