Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) by Jules Verne Page B

our country, our friends, our relations again?”
    “Yes, sir. But to renounce that unendurable worldly yoke which men believe to be liberty is not perhaps so painful as you think.”
    “Well,” exclaimed Ned Land, “never will I give my word of honor not to try to escape.”
    “I did not ask you for your word of honor, Master Land,” answered the commander coldly.
    “Sir,” I replied, beginning to get angry in spite of myself, “you abuse your situation toward us; it is cruelty.”
    “No, sir, it is clemency. You are my prisoners of war. I keep you, when I could, by a word, plunge you into the depths of the ocean. You attacked me. You came to surprise a secret which no man in the world must penetrate—the secret of my whole existence. And you think that I am going to send you back to that world which must know me no more? Never! In retaining you, it is not you whom I guard—it is myself.”
    These words indicated a resolution taken on the part of the commander, against which no arguments would prevail.
    “So, sir,” I rejoined, “you give us simply the choice between life and death?”
    “Simply.”
    “My friends,” said I, “to a question thus put, there is nothing to answer. But no word of honor binds us to the master of this vessel.”
    “None, sir,” answered the Unknown.
    Then, in a gentler tone, he continued:
    “Now, permit me to finish what I have to say to you. I know you, M. Aronnax. You and your companions will not, perhaps, have so much to complain of in the chance which has bound you to my fate. You will find among the books which are my favorite study the work which you have published on ‘the depths of the sea.’ I have often read it. You have carried your work as far as terrestrial science permitted you. But you do not know all—you have not seen all. Let me tell you then, professor, that you will not regret the time passed on board my vessel. You are going to visit the land of marvels.”
    These words of the commander had a great effect upon me. I cannot deny it. My weak point was touched; and I forgot, for a moment, that the contemplation of these sublime subjects was not worth the loss of liberty. Besides, I trusted to the future to decide this grave question. So I contented myself with saying:
    “By what name ought I to address you?”
    “Sir,” replied the commander, “I am nothing to you but Captain Nemo; ae and you and your companions are nothing to me but the passengers of the Nautilus.” 17
    Captain Nemo called. A steward appeared. The captain gave him his orders in that strange language which I did not understand. Then, turning toward the Canadian and Conseil:
    “A repast awaits you in your cabin,” said he. “Be so good as to follow this man. And now, M. Aronnax, our breakfast is ready. Permit me to lead the way.”
    “I am at your service, captain.”
    I followed Captain Nemo; and as soon as I had passed through the door, I found myself in a kind of passage lighted by electricity, similar to the waist of a ship. After we had proceeded a dozen yards, a second door opened before me.
    I then entered a dining-room, decorated and furnished in severe taste. High oaken sideboards, inlaid with ebony, stood at the two extremities of the room, and upon their shelves glittered china, porcelain, and glass of inestimable value.
    The plate on the table sparkled in the rays which the luminous ceiling shed around while the light was tempered and softened by exquisite paintings.
    In the center of the room was a table richly laid out. Captain Nemo indicated the place I was to occupy.
    The breakfast consisted of a certain number of dishes, the contents of which were furnished by the sea alone; and I was ignorant of the nature and mode of preparation of some of them. I acknowledged that they were good, but they had a peculiar flavor, which I easily became accustomed to. These different aliments appeared to me to be rich in phosphorus, and I thought they must have a marine