"Jules Verne. Off on a Comet. WORKS" - читать интересную книгу автора

Servadac smiled. "Do you know what it is to be a philosopher,
Ben Zoof?" he asked.

"I am a soldier, sir," was the servant's prompt rejoinder, "and I
have learnt to know that 'what can't be cured must be endured.'"

The captain made no reply, but for a time, at least, he desisted from puzzling
himself over matters which he felt he was utterly incompetent to explain.
But an event soon afterwards occurred which awakened his keenest interest.

About nine o'clock on the morning of the 27th, Ben Zoof walked deliberately
into his master's apartment, and, in reply to a question as to what he wanted,
announced with the utmost composure that a ship was in sight.

"A ship!" exclaimed Servadac, starting to his feet. "A ship!
Ben Zoof, you donkey! you speak as unconcernedly as though you
were telling me that my dinner was ready."

"Are we not philosophers, captain?" said the orderly.

But the captain was out of hearing.



CHAPTER IX

INQUIRIES UNSATISFIED


Fast as his legs could carry him, Servadac had made his way to
the top of the cliff. It was quite true that a vessel was in sight,
hardly more than six miles from the shore; but owing to the increase
in the earth's convexity, and the consequent limitation of the range
of vision, the rigging of the topmasts alone was visible above the water.
This was enough, however, to indicate that the ship was a schooner--
an impression that was confirmed when, two hours later, she came
entirely in sight.

"The _Dobryna_!" exclaimed Servadac, keeping his eye unmoved
at his telescope.

"Impossible, sir!" rejoined Ben Zoof; "there are no signs of smoke."

"The _Dobryna_!" repeated the captain, positively. "She is under sail;
but she is Count Timascheff's yacht."

He was right. If the count were on board, a strange fatality
was bringing him to the presence of his rival. But no longer
now could Servadac regard him in the light of an adversary;