But no answer came. The professor's excitement had proved too much for him in his weak state, and when they looked at him he was sleeping peacefully as a little child with a happy smile on his face. "Hush," said Renée, and she put her fingers to her lips. All the guests crept out of the room in silence, leaving Renée alone to nurse her lover. Day by day Delapine grew stronger, thanks to the careful nursing of Renée and to the medical skill of Riche and Villebois. A week later the professor walked out into the garden, for the first time, with a stick, and sat down in the summer-house. "Ah, yes, this is where I had my last cup of coffee, if I remember rightly." "Yes," replied Riche and Céleste together, "and if you had drunk it you would not be here to tell the tale." "But the insectivorous plant would, eh! Renée?" said Delapine with a comical smile. "Well I have got to thank Pierre after all. For if he had not injected that wonderful liquid into my arm I should never have made those wonderful discoveries, and had those extraordinary adventures which I have experienced all these months. Yes, I promise you I shall have them all in writing before long, and I trust I shall be spared to see you all enjoy reading them." "But before you dictate them, professor, it is imperative that you have a change and re-establish your health, and we shall want you to take a trip somewhere." "Yes, yes, I have provided for all that. I intend going to Monte Carlo." "What!" they all exclaimed, "to Monte Carlo?" "Why not?" he replied. "Oh, but you surely do not mean to go there to play at the tables?" "Why not?" he repeated. "But, professor, we never knew you were a gambler." "Well, well, it is part of my programme, and you will see how necessary it will be. It is true I am not a gambler, but I have resolved to play at the tables. Now, no more questions, or Renée will turn you all out of the garden," and Delapine laughed in his own hearty way. "What a marvellous man," said Riche to Villebois. "Oh, you don't know him yet, just wait a bit and see." FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 17: "Last of the Gods, e'en Hope the tomb doth flee, and in its night Oblivion doth all mortal things enfold."] CHAPTER XX THE NEW JERUSALEM GOLD MINE En vieillissant on devient plus fou et plus sage La Rochefoucauld. _Maximes_, 210. Quien Mucho abarca poco a prieta. (Spanish Proverb.) Payot's financial schemes had not been flourishing of late. The Morocco concessions for very obvious reasons had unavoidably fallen through, and the financier's credit was none of the best.