and the DUNCAN will sail as easily to Calcutta as to Concepcion;
and since it is only a pleasure trip that you are--"

His proposal was met by such grave, disapproving shakes of the head,
that he stopped short before the sentence was completed;
and Lady Helena said:

"Monsieur Paganel, if we were only on a pleasure trip, I should reply,
'Let us all go to India together,' and I am sure Lord Glenarvan would
not object; but the DUNCAN is going to bring back shipwrecked mariners
who were cast away on the shores of Patagonia, and we could not alter
such a destination."

The Frenchman was soon put in possession of all the circumstances
of the case. He was no unmoved auditor, and when he heard
of Lady Helena's generous proposition, he could not help saying,

"Madame, permit me to express my admiration of your conduct throughout--
my unreserved admiration. Let your yacht continue her course.
I should reproach myself were I to cause a single day's delay."

"Will you join us in our search, then?" asked Lady Helena.

"It is impossible, madame. I must fulfill my mission.
I shall disembark at the first place you touch at,
wherever it may be."

"That will be Madeira," said John Mangles.

"Madeira be it then. I shall only be 180 leagues from Lisbon,