Paganel's surprise became absolute stupefaction.
The Major and his cousin exchanged sly glances, and McNabbs
said, mischievously, with a look of fun on his face, "Ah, ah,
my worthy friend; is this another of your misadventures?
You seem to have quite a monopoly of them."

"What!" said Paganel, pricking up his ear.

"Yes, it's clear enough the man speaks Spanish."

"He!"

"Yes, he certainly speaks Spanish. Perhaps it is some other language
you have been studying all this time instead of--"

But Paganel would not allow him to proceed. He shrugged his shoulders,
and said stiffly,

"You go a little too far, Major."

"Well, how is it that you don't understand him then?"

"Why, of course, because the man speaks badly," replied the
learned geographer, getting impatient.

"He speaks badly; that is to say, because you can't understand him,"
returned the Major coolly.

"Come, come, McNabbs," put in Glenarvan, "your supposition
is quite inadmissable. However DISTRAIT our friend Paganel is,