he himself that had introduced him and M. Malte Brun. What a _rencontre_
this was, and what a pleasure to travel with the daughter of Tuffnell.

He wound up by asking permission to kiss her, which Lady Helena granted,
though it was, perhaps, a little improper.


CHAPTER VIII THE GEOGRAPHER'S RESOLUTION


MEANTIME the yacht, favored by the currents from the north
of Africa, was making rapid progress toward the equator.
On the 30th of August they sighted the Madeira group of islands,
and Glenarvan, true to his promise, offered to put in there,
and land his new guest.

But Paganel said:

"My dear Lord, I won't stand on ceremony with you. Tell me,
did you intend to stop at Madeira before I came on board?"

"No," replied Glenarvan.

"Well, then, allow me to profit by my unlucky mistake. Madeira is
an island too well known to be of much interest now to a geographer.
Every thing about this group has been said and written already.
Besides, it is completely going down as far as wine growing is concerned.
Just imagine no vines to speak of being in Madeira! In 1813,
22,000 pipes of wine were made there, and in 1845 the number fell
to 2,669. It is a grievous spectacle! If it is all the same to you,