Treasure Hunt Tales: The Star of the South & Captain Antifer. Жюль Верн
of breaking off or at least delaying the marriage of Juhel and Enogate, although his longitude had arrived before the 6th of April. But there was a doubt as to this, and hence the anxiety of Enogate and Juhel, Nanon, and Gildas Tregomain.
Tregomain resolved to give his friend an opportunity of explaining. Better to know at once what was going to happen. At least they could discuss the matter, and let this terrible uncle hear reason.
“Look here, my friend,” said Tregomain, rounding his back, “suppose you have these millions—”
“Suppose? Why suppose?”
“Well, let us say you have them—a good fellow like you accustomed to live in a humble way, what are you going to do?”
“What I please,” replied Antifer, drily.
“You are not going to buy all St. Malo, I imagine—”
“All St. Malo, all St. Servan, and all Dinard, if it suits me, and even that ridiculous brook the Rance, which has no other water than what the tide chooses to bring it.”
He knew that in insulting the Rance he was stinging to the quick one who had been up and down this charming river for twenty years of his life.
“That may be,” said Tregomain, biting his lip; “but you cannot eat a morsel more, or drink a glass more, unless you buy a supplementary stomach—”
“I will buy what I like, Mr. Freshwater Sailor, and if any one says no to me, if I find any opposition among my own people—”
This was addressed to the lovers.
“I will eat my millions. I will dissipate them, I will turn them into smoke, into dust, and Juhel and Enogate shall have none of the two each I intend one day to leave them—”
“Better say the four to both, my friend.”
“Why?”
“Because they are going to get married.”
This touched the burning question.
“Hold there, bargeman,” said Antifer, in the voice of a stentor. “Up you go to the main-royal, and take a look around.”
This was his way of sending Tregomain about his business—figuratively be it understood, for to hoist such a mass to the top of any mast whatever would have been impossible without the aid of a capstan.
Neither Nanon, nor Juhel, nor Enogate, dare interfere in the conversation. The young captain got so white that he was evidently hardly able to master his indignation.
But the bargeman was not one to desert anybody in the open sea. Approaching his friend he said,—
“However, you made a promise—”
“What promise?”
“To consent to their marriage.”
“Yes—if the longitude did not come, and as the longitude has come—”
“All the more reason for assuring their happiness—”
“Exactly. And therefore Enogate shall marry a prince—”
“If she can find one.”
“And Juhel a princess.”
“There are none to marry!” replied Tregomain, who could argue no more.
“You can always find one when you have a dowry of two millions to offer.”
“Then you had better search—”
“I will search and I will find—and in the Almanach de Gothon too.”
He meant to say the Almanach de Gotha, this obstinate intractable coaster, possessed with the idea of mingling the blood of potentates with the blood of the Antifers.
But not wishing to prolong a conversation which might end badly, resolved to yield in no respect on this marriage question, he let it be understood—very clearly—that he wished to be left alone in his room, and not to be disturbed by anybody before dinner.
Tregomain judged it prudent not to withstand him, and all four went downstairs. They were all in despair, and the girl was crying. This was almost more than Tregomain could bear.
“I don’t like people to cry,” he said, “not even when sorrow comes to them, my little one.”
“But,” said she, “all is lost. Uncle will never give in. This enormous fortune has turned his head.”
“Yes,” said Nanon; “and when my brother gets ah idea into his head—”
Juhel did not speak. He strode about the room crossing and uncrossing his arms, opening and shutting his hands. Suddenly he exclaimed,—
“After all he is not master! I have no need of his permission to marry. I am of age—”
“But Enogate is not,” said the bargeman. “And as her guardian he can object.”
“Yes, and we are all dependent on him,” added Nanon, bowing her head.
“My advice,” said Tregomain, “is not to oppose him directly. It is not impossible that this mania will pass away, particularly if we seem to give in to him.”
“You ought to be right,” said Enogate. “We shall gain more by gentleness than violence, at least I hope so.”
“Besides,” said the bargeman, “he has not got the millions yet.”
“No,” said Juhel; “and in spite of his latitude and his longitude, he may come to grief before he lays his hands on them. It will take a good deal of time.”
“A good deal!” murmured the girl.
“Yes, dear Enogate, and there may be delays! Ah! the confounded uncle.”
“And the confounded brutes who have come from the confounded Pasha!” growled Nanon. “I should have welcomed them with the broomstick.”
“They would have managed to see him, all the same,” said Juhel, “and this Ben Omar, who has a commission on the business, would never have left him alone.”
“Then uncle is going away?” asked Enogate.
“Probably,” said Tregomain, “now he knows where the island is.”
“I will accompany him,” said Juhel.
“You, Juhel?” exclaimed the girl.
“Yes, it must be so; I should like to be there to prevent his committing some stupidity, to bring him back if he stays away too long.”
“Well thought of, my boy,” said the bargeman.
“Who knows where he may be dragged, running after this treasure, and to what dangers he may be exposed.”
Enogate felt as sad as ever, but she understood him. Juhel’s resolve was dictated by good sense; perhaps the length of the voyage might be shortened by it.
The young captain did his best to console her. He would write to her often; he would tell her all that happened; Nanon would not leave her, nor would Tregomain, who would see her every day, who would teach her resignation.
“Depend on me, my girl,” said the bargeman, much moved. “I will teach you not to dwell on it too much. You don’t know the adventures of the Charmante Amélie!”
No, Enogate did not know them, for he had not yet dared to recount them for fear of Captain Antifer.
“Well. I will tell you them. They are very interesting. The time will pass. Some day we shall see our friend return with his millions under his arm—or the bag empty—and our brave Juhel, who will take but one jump from the house to the Cathedral. I will not stop you. If you like, I will have my new coat made while they are away, and wear it every morning.”
“Below there!