Paganel was magnificent. He spoke with superb animation, soaring away
on the wings of imagination. It would have been as impossible to stop
him as to stop the Rhine at the Falls of Schaffhausen.

"Monsieur Jacques Paganel," said Lord Glenarvan, after a
brief pause, "that would certainly be a grand achievement,
and you would confer a great boon on science, but I should not
like to allow you to be laboring under a mistake any longer,
and I must tell you, therefore, that for the present at least,
you must give up the pleasure of a visit to India."

"Give it up. And why?"

"Because you are turning your back on the Indian peninsula."

"What! Captain Burton."

"I am not Captain Burton," said John Mangles.

"But the SCOTIA."

"This vessel is not the SCOTIA."

It would be impossible to depict the astonishment of Paganel. He stared
first at one and then at another in the utmost bewilderment.

Lord Glenarvan was perfectly grave, and Lady Helena and Mary showed their
sympathy for his vexation by their looks. As for John Mangles, he could
not suppress a smile; but the Major appeared as unconcerned as usual.