"When I arrived at Aden, the Governor told me that everything which had been received had been sent on board my ship, including the papers found on my friend, and that a certificate of death had been duly drawn up, which my lieutenant was instructed to convey to the family. I asked no more questions, and wrote at once a little note of condolence to Lefebure's wife. I sent the agreed ransom to my Changallas, and at the same time a letter of complaint to the King of Nubia. Altogether, it was four months since my ship had left Aden. The following day I took the mail boat to Suez--arrived last night at Marseilles--and here I am!" "Yes, indeed," I said to my uncle, when he had concluded; "that explains it all. They drew up the certificate of decease according to the papers found on your friend Lefebure, and as they were yours----" "Why, they mistook him for me; and that ass Rabassu went off with the ship to bring the notary the news of my death." "That's clear," I added. "But what puzzles me most," replied he, "is to know what has become of my camels!" As you may well imagine, my dear Louis, this unexpected resurrection of my uncle plunged me into a state of excitement, which took entire possession of me. I could not see enough of him, or hear enough of him; and all that day I so completely forgot everything which did not concern him, that I did not even think of moving outside the chateau. I followed him from room to room, and kept looking at him, for I felt the need of convincing myself that he was really alive. As to him, quickly recovering from the very transitory astonishment into which the news of his supposed death had thrown him, he had resumed that splendid composure, which you remember in him. He superintended all his little arrangements, and unpacked all his boxes, full of all sorts of articles from Nubia, whistling all the while fragments of _bamboulas_ which were still ringing in his ears. After dinner in the evening, he said to me, stretching out his long legs over the divan, with the air of a man who loves his ease: "By Jove, it's very snug here! If you like, we will stay down here several weeks." "As many weeks as you like, uncle," I answered--"months even!" "Well done!--But," he continued, "won't you be rather dull?--for, unless you have some little distraction----" "Ah!" I exclaimed, remembering all at once my harem; "I forgot to tell you about this little affair!" "What affair?" he said. "Have you found your distraction already, then?" "I should just think I have, uncle!" "Is she pretty?" "Why, I have four!" At this information my uncle did not raise his eyebrows any more than if I had told him that I was occupying my leisure by practising the rustic flute; he only stretched out his arm, took my hand and shook it smartly in the English fashion, saying, "My compliments, my dear fellow!--I beg your pardon for my indiscretion."