This is a new idee, Sir Goldencalf--"

"Sir John Goldencalf, if you please, sir."

"A new idee, Sir John Goldencalf, and it needs circumspection.
Circumspection in a bargain is the certain way to steer clear of
misunderstandings. You wish a navigator to take your craft, let her
be what she will, into unknown seas, and I wish, naturally, to make a
straight course for Stunin'tun. You see the bargain is in apogee, from
the start."

"Money is no consideration with me, Captain Poke."

"Well, this is an idee that has brought many a more difficult
contract at once into perigee, Sir John Goldencalf. Money is always a
considerable consideration with me, and I may say, also, just now it
is rather more so than usual. But when a gentleman clears the way as
handsomely as you have now done, any bargain may be counted as a good
deal more than half made."

A few explicit explanations disposed of this part of the subject, and
Captain Poke accepted of my terms in the spirit of frankness with which
they were made. Perhaps his decision was quickened by an offer of twenty
Napoleons, which I did not neglect making on the spot. Amicable and in
some respects confidential relations were now established between my new
acquaintance and myself; and we pursued our walk, discussing the details
necessary to the execution of our project. After an hour or two passed
in this manner, I invited my companion to go to my hotel, meaning that
he should partake of my board until we could both depart for England,
where it was my intention to purchase without delay a vessel for the
contemplated voyage, in which I also had decided to embark in person.

We were obliged to make our way through the throng that usually
frequents the lower part of the Champs Elysees during the season of good
weather and towards the close of the day. This task was nearly over when
my attention was particularly drawn to a group that was just entering
the place of general resort, apparently with the design of adding to the
scene of thoughtlessness and amusement. But as I am now approaching
the most material part of this extraordinary work, it will be proper to
reserve the opening for a new chapter.

CHAPTER VIII. AN INTRODUCTION TO FOUR NEW CHARACTERS, SOME TOUCHES OF
PHILOSOPHY, AND A FEW CAPITAL THOUGHTS ON POLITICAL ECONOMY.

The group which drew my attention was composed of six individuals, two
of which were animals of the genus homo, or what is vulgarly termed man;