“Doubtless; but to extract this money the expense would be greater than the profit. Here, on the contrary, I have but to pick up what man has lost—and not only in Vigo Bay, but in a thousand other ports where shipwrecks have happened, and which are marked on my submarine map. Can you understand now the source of the millions I am worth?” “I understand, Captain. But allow me to tell you that in exploring Vigo Bay you have only been beforehand with a rival society.” “And which?” “A society which has received from the Spanish Government the privilege of seeking those buried galleons. The shareholders are led on by the allurement of an enormous bounty, for they value these rich shipwrecks at five hundred millions.” “Five hundred millions they were,” answered Captain Nemo, “but they are so no longer.” “Just so,” said I; “and a warning to those shareholders would be an act of charity. But who knows if it would be well received? What gamblers usually regret above all is less the loss of their money than of their foolish hopes. After all, I pity them less than the thousands of unfortunates to whom so much riches well-distributed would have been profitable, whilst for them they will be for ever barren.” I had no sooner expressed this regret than I felt that it must have wounded Captain Nemo. “Barren!” he exclaimed, with animation. “Do you think then, sir, that these riches are lost because I gather them? Is it for myself alone, according to your idea, that I take the trouble to collect these treasures? Who told you that I did not make a good use of it? Do you think I am ignorant that there are suffering beings and oppressed races on this earth, miserable creatures to console, victims to avenge? Do you not understand?” Captain Nemo stopped at these last words, regretting perhaps that he had spoken so much. But I had guessed that, whatever the motive which had forced him to seek independence under the sea, it had left him still a man, that his heart still beat for the sufferings of humanity, and that his immense charity was for oppressed races as well as individuals. And I then understood for whom those millions were destined which were forwarded by Captain Nemo when the _Nautilus_ was cruising in the waters of Crete. CHAPTER IX A VANISHED CONTINENT The next morning, the 19th of February, I saw the Canadian enter my room. I expected this visit. He looked very disappointed. “Well, sir?” said he. “Well, Ned, fortune was against us yesterday.” “Yes; that Captain must needs stop exactly at the hour we intended leaving his vessel.” “Yes, Ned, he had business at his bankers.” “His bankers!” “Or rather his banking-house; by that I mean the ocean, where his riches are safer than in the chests of the State.”