o a scientific reverie as to the actual cause of the
disaster--the cause, I mean, from a _scientist's_ point of view. Sound
the gong, George; water is a good conductor, and he may possibly hear it
and be awakened to a consciousness that time flies."

The gong was accordingly struck, and the three companions hastened to
the pilot-house to watch for results. The call proved effectual, for in
less than five minutes afterwards the professor made his appearance on
the deck of the wreck, soon afterwards rejoining his friends on board
the _Flying Fish_ in the vestibule outside the saloons. He carried in
his hand a small compact package, which he deposited carefully on the
sideboard, and then, with a much more cheerful mien than he had worn
when setting out upon his solitary journey, took his accustomed place at
the table, apparently quite prepared to do full justice to the meal
which was about to be served.

The soup and fish were discussed in silence; a glass of wine was then
imbibed with much apparent enjoyment, and this unlocked the professor's
lips.

"I feel it to be due to you, gentlemen--and more especially to _you_,
Sir Reginald--to offer some explanation of the motive which influenced
me in my proposal that we should come hither," he remarked, setting his
wine-glass down on the table. "I had a threefold object in view. In
the first place, I felt curious to know whether it would be possible to
find, _at the bottom of the sea_, an object the position of which is
only approximately known. In the second place, I was anxious to secure
a relic. And in the third place, I was almost equally anxious to
recover a most valuable document which I was convinced had gone down in
the unfortunate _Daedalus_. With regard to the first-named object, you
have already witnessed our complete success. I have also been
successful in the remaining two."

The speaker paused here; but it was so evident from his manner that he
had not yet said all he had to say upon the subject that his companions
contented themselves with mere simple monosyllabic murmurs of polite
congratulation, and then awaited in silence a further communication.

The professor continued silent and evidently plunged deep in a somewhat
sombre reverie for several minutes; then he lifted his head and said
somewhat hesitatingly:

"You will perhaps be surprised to learn that my life has not been left
wholly ungilded by the halo of romance. Five-and-twenty years ago,